Speed Mentoring

Anick Ouellette

Keys to success

My winning formula since the very beginning of my career is certainly my collaborative approach, my customer-oriented service and my profound respect for everyone!

Career Path

Anick began her career in the private sector for a period of 10 years.  She then joined the public service in 2001 at ESDC, where she fulfilled various roles and responsibilities within the finance sector. In 2006, Anick joined CIDA, now merged with GAC, where she held the positions of Director of Financial Policies and Deputy Chief Financial Officer (DCFO) & Director General of the Finance Operations Division. Then in 2013, Anick became the Director General of Financial Operations and DCFO at IRCC and in 2015 she joined CIHR as the Director General, Finance Administration and DCFO.

Anick occupied the position of Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at LAC where her responsibilities included finance and procurement, human resources and security, corporate planning and accountability, real property management as well as innovation and technologies.

Prior to her current position, Anick held the position of Assistant Deputy Minister and CFO at GAC, where she was responsible for the areas of financial management, information management and information technology, corporate planning, accommodations, and domestic procurement.

In her current role, Anick prepares and delivers courses, including curricula in financial management and leadership.

Education

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA)
• Bachelor in Accounting Sciences

Anik Lapointe

Career Path

Anik has 14 years of experience as a Chief and Deputy Chief Financial Officer in small agencies. She first gained her leadership experience as Branch Manager in private sector financial institutions. Since 2002, she continued to improve her leadership in different roles within the federal public service.

Anik was a member of the fmi.igf on the board of directors and/or the organizing committees for 15 years. Since 2009, she has collaborated on several committees of the Small Departments and Agencies networks. She gained valuable experience and knowledge in all spheres of corporate services while working in small agencies.

Anik likes to learn, to undertake new challenges and to manage engaged and dynamic teams.

 Education

• Chartered Professional Accountant
• Master’s in Public Administration
• Baccalaureate of Business Administration

Thankaraj Arun

 Keys to success

Being able to tell a good accounting story without people falling asleep is one factor, the other is not being afraid to try new things, to fail and to learn.

Career Path

Arun Thangaraj brings over 25 years of federal government experience. In 2011, he joined the former Canadian International Development Agency, now Global Affairs Canada, as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director General, Financial Resource Management and Planning. In July 2015, Arun was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Global Affairs Canada.

Education

• Honours BA in Political Science
• MBA
• Master of Public Administration
• CPA / CMA designation

Begonia Lojk

 Keys to success

“Show up!  Long ago, a very important mentor in university said ‘Begonia, sometimes the most important thing you can do in life is show up’.  This has served me well all my life, personally and professionally. Almost every job I landed was because I knocked on someone’s door or showed up at the right time.”

“You are dependent on the people around you to get things done, so choose well and treat them with respect.  Relationships and trust take time but they are your greatest investment.”

 Career Path

Begonia has been the Chief Audit and Evaluation Executive (CAEE) for SSC since 2018. She is also SSC’s Executive Co-champion for Official Languages and the Senior Officer for Internal Disclosure. She graduated from McGill University as a civil engineer in the mid 80s. Begonia also holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa. The first 14 years of her career were spent in the private sector as a consulting engineer managing multi-disciplinary projects, and water and wastewater systems. She has also worked with Canadian provinces and territories that regulate the engineering profession.

Begonia joined the federal family in 2002, first working internationally for almost ten years with the Standards Council of Canada, then joining Public Services and Procurement Canada as the Senior Director of the Canadian General Standards Board, and later Shared Travel Services. She is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) and Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), and served on the Executive of the Ottawa Chapter of PEO from 1995-2003, and as Chair in 2002.

Begonia is fluent in three languages (English, French and Spanish). She is married with two adult children and one very wonderful grandson.

 Education

• Bachelor of Civil Engineering
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certificate in Regulatory Leadership

Bill Matthews

 Career path

On January 5, 2022, the Prime Minister announced the appointment of Bill Matthews to the position of Deputy Minister of National Defence.

Prior to his most recent appointment, Bill held the position of Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement since January 2019, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence since October 2017, and served as the Comptroller General of Canada between July 2014 and October 2017.

Bill has also held various senior-level positions within the Office of the Comptroller General and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat with responsibilities in the areas of financial management policy, estimates, evaluation, and expenditure management.

Bill is a member of the board and chairs the Finance and Audit Committee of the University of Ottawa’s Institute for Mental Health Research.

 Education

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA)

Carlo Beaudoin

 Keys to success

“Ability to work with people, gain trust and respect is critical. A leader must have the confidence of their team, colleagues and staff to be successful.”

“A leader must establish clear direction and have the ability to prioritize work and deliver on key priorities. There generally isn’t enough time in a day to get everything done, successful leaders guide their teams to focus on what is most important.”

 Career Path

I have had a diverse career path that includes roles in internal audit, corporate operations, project management and resources management. I have performed these functions in four different departments (AAFC, TBS, Finance, PHAC) over a 31 year period.

These diverse experiences have exposed me to various aspects of financial management, systems and project management that are part of how I approach issues on a daily basis.

 Education

• BBA Major in Accounting
• Chartered Professional Accountant.

Christine Walker

 Keys to success

“Don’t over-plan your career. Be willing to take roles that make you uncomfortable – that way you keep learning and growing. Be realistic about what you can take versus what you want to want to take on.”

 Career Path

Christine Walker is the Assistant Comptroller General of the Financial Management Transformation (FMT) Sector within the Office of the Comptroller General. As Assistant Comptroller General, Christine provides executive leadership in the development of the Financial Management Transformation roadmap which will define the future of the financial management systems landscape in the Government of Canada.

Christine has over 25 years of experience in the public service managing finance, IT, real property, security, procurement and human resources and has led many organization-wide corporate transformation projects. Her previous experience includes Assistant Deputy Minister for the Corporate Management Branch and Chief Financial Officer at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada as well as tenures in similar roles at Canada Border Services Agency, Treasury Board Secretariat, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Prior to joining government, she worked in the private sector both in Canada and France.

 Education

• Graduated from University of Western Ontario
• Chartered Professional Accountant

Christopher MacDonald

 Keys to success

The factors that have helped me be successful in my career have been:

• Working for strong leaders and mentors – the first Director I worked for was instrumental in teaching me how to apply my knowledge, skills and abilities in the federal public service workplace. The Deputy Heads that I have reported to demonstrate their support for the function and for the work that the team does to provide insights and advice through our products.
• Committing to personal continuous improvement and growth. I have taken training to get better at communicating, writing, and leading teams. I have also focused on taking training in areas where I believe I should improve – most recently in digital strategy.
• Being involved in the community – by volunteering on Boards (e.g. IIA Ottawa)

 Career Path

In his current role, Christopher is responsible for the internal audit and evaluation functions within Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). He leads a team of approximately 32 people in achieving the Branch’s mandate. From December 2017 to April 2021 Christopher held the same position at the Public Service Commission of Canada where he was also the Senior Officer for the Disclosure of Wrongdoings and the Departmental Co-Champion of the Government of Canada Charitable Campaign 2018-19 and 2019-20. In addition, he is a Co-Chair of the Interdepartmental Audit Operations Network whose mandate is to bring together internal audit leaders in support of overall OCG talent management initiatives.

Christopher entered the federal public service in 1999, when he joined the OAG; there, he worked on several audits of Government operations. In April 2021, he was appointed CAEE at ECCC. Prior to his CAEE jobs, Christopher held Director of Internal Audit positions at INFC and IRCC. He rose through the internal audit ranks in a number of Departments and from 2011-13 he was an Internal Auditor in the Office of Audit and Inspection, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium.

 Education

• Master’s in Public Administration, Queen’s University
• Master’s in Development Economics, Dalhousie University
• Certified Internal Auditor and Certified in Risk Management Assurance, IIA
• Certificate in Digital Business Strategy: Harnessing our Digital Future, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Claude Rochette

 Keys to success

“Innovation, Collaboration and Dedication”

Career Path

Claude is a bilingual Canadian Forces and public sector professional with over 37 years of service to Canada. Claude gained significant experience in finance, HR and leadership over his 26 in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) occupying various financial and non-financial positions such as Director General Compensation and Benefits, Commandant of the Canadian Forces Support Unit Ottawa, Comptroller of the CAF and DCFO.

Upon his retirement as a Brigadier General in 2010, Claude spent 9 years in the federal public service as the CFO at CSEC (2), CBSA (2) and DND (5) providing him with leading expertise and knowledge on numerous disciplines including comptrollership, financial planning, budgeting, corporate accounting, business planning, procurement, infrastructure, assets and security policies and processes. His nomination as Associate Deputy Minister of National Defense in January 2019 gave him an opportunity to apply his broad and extensive experience at the highest strategic level.

Since his retirement in January 2021, Claude is a member of the Departmental Audit Committee at Elections Canada and has provided client departments such as DND, CAS, POLAR and LAC with strategic financial health reviews, program reviews, and financial advisory and coaching  services.

 Education

• 2009 – Professional Logistician (PLog)
• 2008 – Chartered Professional Accountant
• 2008 – National Strategic Studies Program
• 2003 – Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP)
• 2000 – Canadian Forces Command and Staff College
• 1983 – Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Relations, Laval University

Darlene Bess

Keys to success

Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate to and connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives. – Oprah Winfrey

Career Path

Darlene has 25 years of experience in both the private and public sector. She is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Finances, Results and Deliver Officer with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Prior to this, Darlene served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Finance Canada. Darlene also held various senior financial management positions at the Office of the Comptroller General for Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Mitel Networks Limited, Office of the Auditor General of Canada and Shoppers Drug Mart Limited.

Darlene holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and completed her Chartered Accountant Designation with Price Waterhouse in 1996. Darlene is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA).

In her free time, Darlene has spent the last five years coaching the Ottawa Elite U16 Girls Basketball Team and volunteering time as a mentor to members of the visible minority community. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, and her two children.

Education

o Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA)

o Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA)

o Bachelor of Commerce

Douglas McConnachie

Keys to success

“The most effective leaders surround themselves with employees who are smarter, more talented and harder working than they are.”

“The greatest leaders do everything in their power to help their employees develop in their roles and achieve their career objectives.”

 Career Path

Douglas (Doug) McConnachie was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management Sector at Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) in October 2019. In this role, he is accountable for the stewardship of a voted appropriation of over $6B as well as the provision of human resources, corporate planning, accommodation and security management services to roughly 6,000 FTEs throughout Canada.

Doug has 27 years of experience in public sector management and corporate finance and has served in senior management roles at Environment and Climate Change Canada, Public Safety Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant who holds a Master of Business Administration from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University.

 Education

• Chartered Professional Accountant
• Master of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Arts

Eric Trépanier

 Keys to success

“The success of the organization is represented by the people’s efforts.  To be effective, you need to know how to surround yourself with talented, courageous and loyal employees.  After they have been recruited, we must invest on their development by providing them with training and coaching.”

“Successful managers are those who recognizes that they are unable to do all the work alone.  They share their knowledge, delegate and strengthen the autonomy of their team.”

 Experience

In his current role as Assistant Commissioner, he is responsible for the direction and leadership for all the corporate services of the organization.  These include financial management and administration, human resources management, information management and information technology, strategic planning and internal audit.

Mr. Trépanier began his career in an accounting firm in the private sector.  He then joined the federal public service in 1997 at PSPC where he held various positions in the financial services division.  Prior to his appointment as Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Trépanier worked in seven other departments.  The most recent departments are Justice as director general of finance, Natural Resources as senior director of finance and Canada Revenue Agency as director of finance.

 Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting Science
• Chartered Professional Accountant

Hughes St-Pierre

 Keys to success

Emotional Intelligence put in practice

Pragmatic approach when it comes to strategy

Engaging employees, colleagues and stakeholders

 Career Path

Since May 2020, Hughes St-Pierre has occupied the position of ADM, Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

He previously worked at Elections Canada where he was Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Internal Services and CFO with responsibility for human resources, IM/IT, finance, procurement, security, planning and internal communications.

While Hughes has been a CFO for the last 9 years, he also has a strong operations background with experience in managing projects both within and outside Canada, and managing decentralized operations including payroll for the approximate 250,000 workers required during a general election. In 2019, Hughes was responsible for leading Elections Canada’s efforts in collaboration with Canada’s security agencies to protect the general election in the context of emerging cyber and foreign interference threats.

 Education

• Hughes St-Pierre holds a Master in Political Science from Laval University and also has a CPA Accounting designation.

Ian Raskin

 Keys to success

“Building strong relationships with peers, employees and clients is a critical skill that a modern leader needs to master. It fosters trust, professionalism and acts as an opportunity to learn for each other.”

“Innovation and thinking outside of the box can form the basis for positive change and modernization of traditional functions. Challenging the norm and trying new things means taking a small calculated risk but the impacts of success can be tremendous.”

 Career Path

In his current role, Ian is responsible for the Internal Audit, Evaluation and Professional Practices functions at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Ian was also the 2021 recipient of the OCG Internal Audit Vision Award.

Ian entered the Public service in 2007, when he joined the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). He progressed through various roles including the Director of Internal Audit and the Director of Financial Monitoring, Internal Control and Compliance. During his last 4 years at CIHR he held the role of Chief Audit and Evaluation Executive.

Before entering the federal public service, Ian spent almost eight years working in the private sector including Ernst and Young LLP and Ford Motor Company of Canada.

 Education

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Chartered Professional Accountant
• Certified Internal Auditor
• Certified Fraud Examiner
• CGAP, CRMA, CCSA

Jaclyn Staniforth

 Keys to success

“Being a partner and building strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders is

fundamental to success, regardless of your role.”

“Embrace change – it’s the only constant.”

“Be willing to say ‘I don’t know’ and to ask for help. We don’t need to have all of the

answers – we need to know where to get them.”

 Career Path

Since August 2023, Jaclyn has had the pleasure of being the Director General, Audit at the Department of National Defence.

The majority of Jaclyn’s career has been in the internal audit field. However, she did have the opportunity to be the Director, Business Operations & Strategies in In-Person Operations at Service Canada. This opportunity allowed her to get a strong understanding of operational realities outside of an Internal Audit context. In this role Jaclyn led teams responsible for business intelligence and operational performance, strategies and directives, and business improvements.

Jaclyn started her career at Human Resources Development Canada (now Employment & Social Development Canada) in 2002. In addition to the previously noted departments, she has also worked at Global Affairs Canada and most recently at the Parks Canada Agency, where she held the Chief Audit & Evaluation Executive role from October 2019 to August 2023.

 Education

• Certified Internal Auditor, CIA
• Certified Government Auditing Professional, CGAP
• Bachelor of Business Administration, Minor in Economics

Julie Bastarache

Keys to success

“Leadership used to be about muscle; today it’s about brain. But moving forward it’ll be about heart.” – Minouche Shafik.  “What we know is that what you will not replace, no matter how great the algorithm is, you won’t replace what makes us uniquely human – which is courage, connection and empathy.” – Brené Brown adding to the quote.

I always strive to live by these principles. Embracing risk-taking, a growth mindset, learning and diversity are crucial pieces when striving to always add value for those we serve and fostering an environment for engaged teams and meaningful impact.

Career Path

Julie considers herself to be an expert generalist, change agent, servant leader, problem-solver, collaborator, continuous learner, and a forever optimist. She has had a varied career over the past 20+ years that has spanned across the public, private and humanitarian sectors across the globe in several fields. She has lived in several provinces in Canada, in Switzerland and in Haiti (during the earthquake response), having travelled to 40+ countries in addition to these.

In the public sector, she has worked for the Office of the Auditor General, Parks Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada in various roles from internal and external audit, outreach, partnering and engagement, communications, evaluation and risk management. In her current role as Chief Audit Executive, Julie is supporting the modernization and transformational efforts of the organization to help it adapt to the evolving needs of its stakeholders today and in the future.

 Education

• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Chartered Professional Accountant, CA

Kami Ramcharan

 Career Path

Kami Ramcharan retired from the public service with 35 years with a mix of both regional and headquarters experience.

She started her career in Winnipeg, and obtained her CPA in Manitoba and also has her Masters, Business Administration from the University of Ottawa.

She has had a very diverse career and as a seasoned senior executive, transformed many organizations.  She concluded her career as a Chief Financial Officer, for the Canada Revenue Agency, and was the CFO for the Privy Council Office and Natural Resources Canada.  She also held substantive roles in in program and policy areas.

Kami has started her next chapter as a consultant, providing strategic advice to CFOs, supporting departments in organizational/financial reviews, and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.  She continues to coach and mentor people to help them achieve success in their careers.

 Education

• Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Ottawa
• Chartered Professional Accountant

Karen Robertson

 Keys to success

“Genuinely love working with people and being part of high performing teams.”

 Career Path

Karen joined Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in March 2021 as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer.  Her portfolio includes Investment, Procurement & Project Management, Integrated Corporate Accounting and Accountability, Regional Services and Real Property, Financial Management Advisory Services and the SAP Centre of Excellence.

Previously Karen was the Deputy Director Administration and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).  Prior to assuming these responsibilities, Karen had her most professionally challenging career assignment as CFO for the New Zealand Intelligence Community.

Prior to joining CSIS in 2009, Karen worked at the Communications Security Establishment, the Department of National Defence, Accreditation Canada (not-for-profit), and several years in investment banking.

Throughout her career, Karen has volunteered her time professionally (Financial Management Institute of Canada and Government of Canada DCFO Council) and in her community.

Karen enjoys camping and many outdoor sports with her husband and two daughters.

“Have a high tolerance for ambiguity; one has to be courageous to work in this space and trust your team.”

“Staying healthy – mental, physical and overall well-being.”

 Education

• CPA/CMA
• Master in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Commerce

Kathleen Mitchell

 Keys to success

“Be a good listener – listen to your peers and learn from their expertise and experience; listen to your team, learn about their needs and concerns and invest in their potential; listen to your own intuition to guide yourself.”

“Be curious and get involved – make our workplace environment, services and processes better.”

 Career Path

Kathleen Mitchell has been the Assistant Chief Statistician of the Corporate Strategy and Management Field and the Chief Financial Officer at Statistics Canada since September 2022. Kathleen was previously the Director General of the Finance, Planning and Procurement Branch and the Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the agency from April 2018 to September 2022. She began her career at Statistics Canada in 1998 as a student and took on various functions within the former Finance Branch, including eight years as an executive. She previously accepted the position of Director, Resource Management, at the Department of Justice in December 2016 before returning to Statistics Canada as Director General. Kathleen has a keen interest in team leadership and all aspects of human resources. She also has a busy family and appreciates time to read.

 Education

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Chartered Professional Accountant

Linda Drainville

 Keys to success

Be curious and look for new opportunities to deepen your knowledge. Take charge of your career by taking on new roles and developing a varied experience. Show your respect in order to develop the confidence of your colleagues and become that trusted strategic partner that everybody is looking for. Find your own professional and personal balance, and take time for what you are passionate about!

 Experience

Linda Drainville became the Corporate Services and Finance Branch’s Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in March 2021.  Ms. Drainville’s responsibilities span from financial management, to procurement, accounting and controls, to assets, real property and security management to information management and information technology.

Prior to working with ECCC, Ms. Drainville worked at the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces as the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister Finance. She has also served as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director General, Financial Operations and Services with DND/CAF, providing strategic advice in the areas of public accounts, compliance, inventory management, and financial litigation.

Ms. Drainville’s career has included positions in the fields of finance, audit, and forensic accounting, notably with the United Nations, the Office of the Auditor General, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canada Revenue Agency.

     Education

• Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Accounting
• Diploma in Investigative and Forensic Accounting
• Designations: Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and is certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)

Mark Perlman

 Career path

Over his career, Mark Perlman has spent close to 34 years (over 12 of which were at the Assistant Deputy Minister level, with close to 20 years as an executive) in progressively responsible positions in small, medium and large federal departments, working at the district, regional and headquarters levels.  These departments included Employment and Social Development Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, Public Safety, Public Works and Government Services Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the Immigration and Refugee Board in the areas of Finance, Administration, Human Resources, Security, Real Property, Internal Audit, Communications, Shared Services, Policy, Information Technology and Information Management.

Up until his retirement from the public service in September 2021, Mark held the position of Chief Financial Officer and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister at Employment and Social Development Canada for 5 years. In this capacity, he was responsible for all aspects of financial management and stewardship with an annual expenditure base that grew to over $258B in fiscal year 2020-21 due to the pandemic response for the ESDC portfolio. He was also responsible for real property and accommodations, procurement and asset management, enterprise project management governance, and financial systems.

Since his retirement from the public service, on top of thoroughly enjoying retirement, Mark has continued coaching and mentoring others, helped facilitate the Action Learning sets as part of the Next Generation CFO and DCFO programs, and is currently serving as a Departmental Audit Committee (DAC) member for two departments, namely Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Department of Finance.

Mark has a bachelor’s degree from McMaster University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA).

He is married and has one son and one daughter.

Martin Krumins

 Keys to success

“Be humble. Humility increases commitment and respect around oneself. It also allows you to recognize your own strengths, but also your weaknesses, to be more open to others and to new ideas and to be aware that success comes thanks to the contribution of all.”

“Learn every day. Whether it is through mentoring, seminars, continuing education, or even life’s setbacks, learning and being informed helps bringing new ideas, seeing things differently and improving as a person and leader. “

 Career Path

Martin joined the Public Health Agency of Canada in November 2020 as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In his current role, Martin is responsible for strategic leadership, stewardship, risk management, control and performance of Agency financial resources. This also includes responsibility for the management of corporate services and for the business transformation of both the financial management and corporate service functions to meet immediate and longer-term business and service requirements during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Martin also held the position of Executive Director in Program Sector, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat from April 2018 to November 2020. Martin supported Treasury Board in its role as the management board of the Government of Canada and as the budget office in the government-wide expenditure cycle.  In this role, he presented to Treasury Board Ministers directly and responded to their questions in support of Treasury Board Submissions for Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, and Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.

Martin started his career in the Public Service in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans where he held a number of roles across all aspects of financial management, culminating in his role as Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

 Education

• Martin is a CPA, CMA and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, specialization in accounting from Carleton University in Ottawa.

Martin Rubenstein

Keys to success

“Three important factors for finance/audit professionals to be successful are: continuous learning & skill development, effective communication and collaboration skills and the ability to adapt to change and embrace new technologies and trends.”

Career Path

As the Chief Audit & Evaluation Executive, Martin is accountable for providing the President and senior management with independent, objective advice, guidance and assurance on the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of departmental service delivery, governance structures, management practices and control systems.

Martin joined the public service in 2004 as Senior Auditor in the Office of the Inspector General at GAC. Prior to his current job, Martin occupied the roles of DG Integrity Risk Management as well as being the Chief Audit Executive at IRCC. He has also been the CAE at Transport Canada and CIHR, where he ensured sound governance and oversight and provided leadership on internal controls, risk management and evaluation functions.

Education

o Bachelor of Commerce, Honours

o Chartered Professional Accountant

o Certified Internal Auditor

o Certified Fraud Examiner

Monia Lahaie

 Keys to success

Continuously learn, curiosity and openness to new ideas, share and collaborate, passion and respect

 Career Path

Monia is the Assistant Comptroller General for the Financial Management Sector within the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). She is responsible for public accounts, community development and for government-wide policy related to financial management, transfer payments, costing, and charging. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and holds a master’s degree in public administration.

Over the past 30 years, Monia has worked in all areas of financial management and on large transformational projects. Prior to taking on her role at the OCG, she held the position of Assistant Chief Statistician, Corporate Strategy and Management Field/Chief Financial Officer at Statistics Canada, where she was responsible for a broad range of services, including financial management, human resources, workforce and workplace modernization, strategic planning, and corporate governance.

 Education

• Master in Public Administration
• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)

Nathalie Meilleur

 Career Path

Nathalie Meilleur was appointed to the position of Assistant Commissioner and Chief Audit Executive in October 2021. She plays a key role in supporting major strategic and change management initiatives within the CRA. She is responsible for providing strategic advice and executive oversight with respect to horizontal and integrated enterprise risk management, and as such is an active member of the Forum Tax Administration’s Enterprise Risk Management Community of Interest Advisory Group. She also leads robust independent internal audit and program evaluation functions that are supported by strong Professional Practices and Data Science sections. Furthermore, Nathalie is the Senior Officer responsible for overseeing and managing the internal disclosure of wrongdoings within the CRA.

Prior to joining the CRA as Director General, Financial Management Advisory Services Directorate, with the Financial Administration Branch, in June 2018, Nathalie occupied the position of Executive Director, Financial Policy and Community Development Division with the Office of the Comptroller General of Canada of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Nathalie has more than 20 years of financial management and internal audit experience, including 10 years with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Prior to joining the federal government, she worked for a private accounting firm providing financial management services to several departments.

Nathalie strives to establish strong partnerships and trust at all levels, as well as support employee and community development and work collaboratively to sustain a strong workforce.

Nathalie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce with a specialization in Accounting from the University of Ottawa and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).

Nicole Zywicki

 Keys to success

Take every opportunity in your career that you can. Enjoy it!

Volunteer! I have been a part of FMI for over 10 years as well as a treasurer on various boards of directors.

 Career Path

Nicole Zywicki has been the Chief Audit and Evaluation Executive (CAEE) at Infrastructure Canada since September 2022. She started with the federal public service in 2011 by leading internal audits at Employment and Social Development Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada. Her initial introduction to audit started in 2005 when she worked at Ernst and Young LLP as an Audit and Assurance Professional.

Nicole has a passion for finance and audit functions. She also has experience at the municipal level as she was the Head of Finance for the Municipality of North Grenville from 2016 to 2018. And she worked at TBS (2018-2020) as the financial advisor on the team at the Office of the Comptroller General responsible for the Horizontal Fixed Asset Review that made recommendations towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral real property portfolio.

 Education

• CA, CPA, CIA and CFE professional designations
• Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University

Philippe Thompson

 Keys to success

“Gain a strong understanding of the organization you are supporting. Understand the mandate, mission, vision, policy direction and operations. Develop the ability to link resources to results.”

“Surround yourself with people you consider better than you and who bring a different perspective to the organization.”

 Career Path

In his current role, Philippe is responsible for providing leadership and ensuring effective management of departmental finance, integrated planning, results and delivery, parliamentary reporting as well as facility management, security and procurement services. He also manages the departmental Information Technology, Data Management and Information Management functions.

Prior to joining ISC, Philippe was the CFO and ADM, Corporate Management Sector at ISED.  He previously occupied different positions at CBSA, PS, PCO, HRSDC, and PWGSC. Mr. Thompson’s expertise is recognized nationally and internationally in the field of results-based management and he has extensive experience in leading major departmental projects and transformations.

 Education

• Masters of Public Policy and Public Administration
• Bachelor of Political Science

Roch Huppé

 Keys to success

“Communication is one of the most important skills to master. To be effective, understand who you are speaking with, their background and financial knowledge and finally how they may use the information provided.”

“Effective managers set the direction and expectations of their staff. They recognize that their staff are different from them, they understand their individual strengths, weaknesses and what motivates them.”

 Career Path

In his current role, Roch is responsible for government-wide direction and leadership for financial management, internal audit, federal assets and acquired services (project management). He also leads the Financial Management Transformation within the Government of Canada.

Roch entered the public service in 1992, when he joined GAC; there, he held various positions within the financial services division. Prior to his current job, Roch occupied the role of CFO and assistant commissioner, Finance and Administration branch, at the CRA. He has also been the CFO at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, where he ensured sound financial management and provided leadership on all corporate planning, risk management and evaluation functions.

 Education

• Master of Public Administration
• Bachelor in Finance
• Chartered Professional Accountant
• Fellow to the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec

Roger Ermuth

 Keys to success

“In a world of unstructured problems, how we work with others is a critical success factor in any role. Solid relationships need to be established before problems set in.”

“As an effective manager you need to be able to get the best out of all of your employees. This means being fair in how you manage across your team while being flexible and, at times, adjusting your approach to fit with the individual employee.”

Career path

Roger started as the Executive Director and CFO with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in October 2021 and in addition to his role of CFO is also responsible for all registry and corporate functions.  Prior to his appointment, Roger was an Assistant Comptroller General with the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG) where he had responsibility for public accounts, community development and government-wide policy related to financial management, transfer payments, costing, charging.

Roger has held several positions across the federal public service, including Vice President, Health Security and Infrastructure at the Public Health Agency of Canada and Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Correctional Services Canada. He has also worked at the Privy Council Office, Indian and Northern Affairs, Agriculture Canada, and the Canada Revenue Agency.

In recognition of his contributions to the accounting profession, Roger was admitted as a Fellow of Chartered Professional Accounts (FCPA-FCMA).  He also has a MBA from the University of Ottawa, a graduate certificate from Harvard University and a BComm from Carleton University. Prior to joining the government, Roger worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers.  He was also a Moderator with the legacy CMA (accounting) program and part time instructor at the University of Ottawa’s MBA program.

 Education

• Master of Business Administration
• Graduate Certificate in Management and Administration (Harvard)
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Chartered Professional Accountant
• Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA)

Ryan Pilgrim

Keys to success

“Don’t be afraid to fully immerse yourself in new experiences. Asking questions, getting involved and trying new things will help you become an expert in your field of work, while also learning about the valuable perspectives and experiences of those around you.”

“Look for ways to innovate and improve everything you do. Even small enhancements can have a meaningful and long-lasting impact.”

 Career Path

Ryan has been the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister of Corporate Services at Transport Canada since 2019. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the management of several complex corporate teams and initiatives, including financial planning and operations, human resources, facilities management, accommodations, security, access to information and procurement.

Ryan has extensive experience in accounting, budget management and financial policy development. He began his professional career as an accountant with Ernst and Young, where he worked both in Toronto and France. Ryan joined the public service in 2002, where he led finance and IT teams at Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). Ryan has also worked at the Office of the Comptroller General within the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), where he developed a wide variety of financial policies and led the talent management of financial personnel across the Government of Canada.

 Education

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Chartered Professional Accountant

Samantha Hazen

 Keys to success

• You need to love what you do, in order to be effective.
• You need to be willing to lead change, while listening to others.
• This results in the collective success of your organization.

 Career Path

• Since November 2022, Samantha has been responsible for investment planning, financial management, real property management, procurement, materiel and asset management, corporate management systems and corporate accounting, policy and internal control as the Chief Financial Officer at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. She is focused on achieving the vision ‘to be a trusted strategic partner’, providing valued client service that goes beyond numbers to support the Royal Canadian Mounted Police now and in the future.
• She started her career in the Public Service in 1999, joining the Office of the Auditor General, then continued with Global Affairs Canada, Correctional Services Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat and at Shared Services Canada as Chief Financial Officer from October 2020 to November 2022.

 Education

• Chartered Professional Accountant, CPA, CA
• Certified Internal Auditor, CIA
• Bachelor of Commerce with Honours, specialization in accounting

Serena Francis

 Keys to success

“Learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable by pushing yourself to try new and challenging roles despite having little to no experience in a particular area”

“Realize it is impossible to be an expert in everything, and rely on and trust the experts to do the analysis and provide recommendations to solve the issue of the day”

 Career Path

In her current role, Serena is responsible for providing the Minister, Deputy Ministers, and the Departmental Executive team with strategic financial management advice to support program delivery. She is the lead executive with Central Agencies for the overall financial management of Health Canada, with a functional reporting relationship to the Comptroller General of Canada.

Prior to her current role at Health Canada, Serena spent two years at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, in the Office of the Comptroller General, where she was responsible for government-wide policies, directives and guidance related to procurement, real property and materiel management. Throughout her career, Serena has held a variety of senior executive positions in the Chief Financial Officer Branch at Health Canada and at the Treasury Board Secretariat and led Health Canada’s Comprehensive Review Exercise.

 Education

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) – Certified Management Accountant Designation (CMA) – Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Saint Mary’s University, Halifax NS
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Mount Allison University, Sackville NB

Su Dazé

 Keys to success

Managing Human Capacity is the biggest challenge and also the biggest reward.  There is nothing more humbling than to have people look to you for leadership.  They show up each day and bring you their dreams of a successful career. This is a huge responsibility to never be taken lightly.

Have faith in the process – someone is always watching. Do the work and the levels will come. There was always a reason why I did not get a certain job. But I always knew that my turn would come.  Just run the play and let someone else work the scoreboard.

 Career Path

Su Dazé has had a long and interesting career in the financial management function within the Public Service. She has worked in many federal departments both within corporate services as well as financial expert alongside front line program officers.

Su started as a CR-02 Clerk Receptionist for a 6-month term and her story is both motivating and refreshing.  She followed the FI-to-CFO path long before it was created. She has extensive experience in: strategic planning; risk management; performance measurement; financial management; and general administrative services. Su has a keen desire to play it forward – find individual talent and help them achieve their goals.

 Education

• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Chartered Professional Accountant

Wojo Zielonka

Keys to success

“Investing in your career means earning qualifications and learning new skills, but it also means investing in relationships. Building connections with colleagues and clients is how you will become a trusted partner and provide value beyond financial expertise.”

“As a finance professional, it’s easy to find reasons why a new project, proposal, or idea won’t work. What’s harder is finding another way it can. Creative problem-solvers are indispensable.”

 Career Path

In his current role as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Assistant Deputy Minister of the Finance Branch at PSPC, Wojo provides financial leadership and project oversight for the Government of Canada’s central purchasing agent, real property manager, linguistic authority, treasurer, accountant, pay/pension administrator, and common service provider with an annual operating budget of more than $9B.

Wojo began his career providing financial, audit and advisory services in the private sector. Wojo gained project management experience in a variety of international leadership roles with General Electric from 1996 to 2006. He then held several CFO and Chief Information Officer positions with tech companies in the private sector. He moved on to the public sector with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation from 2009 to 2018 as the Chief Risk Officer, the Senior Vice-President of Capital Markets, and later the CFO. Wojo joined the federal government in 2019 as a Special Advisor with Shared Services Canada.

 Education

• Certified Public Accountant & Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)
• ICD.D designation
• Bachelor in Economics