What Unites Us, Defines Us: Values and Ethics in Today's Federal Public Service: Speakers

John Hannaford
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet

John Hannaford was named the 25th Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet on June 24, 2023.

Prior to becoming Clerk, John served as Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada, from 2022 to 2023, where he helped advance some of the government's signature clean energy initiatives.

He contributed to the public service for the preceding two decades representing the Canadian government on key international files, from free trade to foreign and defence policy.

John's first act as Clerk was to launch a broad discussion on public service values and ethics to ensure the civil service is equipped to serve Canadians' changing needs in today's dynamic and increasingly complex environment.

He believes the values of the public service are the cornerstone of our democracy and the compass to ensure "the peace, order and good government" it provides remain relevant and real to every Canadian, every day.

Verna McGregor

Elder Verna McGregor is from the Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, which is approximately 120 kilometres north of Ottawa. Ottawa is part of the Algonquin Nation's traditional lands.

Verna has remained firmly grounded in her community and nation by also being part of groups of traditional grandmothers (kokomisag) and Elders. This includes promoting the retention of the Algonquin language and culture, which is so important when addressing issues and ensuring a connection to the land.

Nathalie Laviades Jodouin
Vice-President, Public Sector Operations and Inclusion Branch, Canada School of Public Service

In September 2021, Nathalie Laviades Jodouin was appointed as Vice-President, Public Sector Operations and Inclusion Branch, at the Canada School of Public Service, where she oversees the design, content development and curation of learning services to support public sector skills, Indigenous reconciliation and diversity and inclusion. She is also responsible for executive learning, where she oversees leadership development programs for executives at all levels.

Nathalie was appointed to the executive cadre in 2010 and held various positions of increasing scope and responsibility, supporting learning for executives or all public servants in a variety of topics and domains. She has been in the public service for 24 years.

Christiane Fox
Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet

Christiane Fox was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, effective January 27, 2024.

Prior to her appointment, Christiane held several deputy minister roles across the public service. She was the Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada from July 2022 to January 2024, the Deputy Minister of Indigenous Services Canada from September 2020 to July 2022, the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs from November 2019 to September 2020, and the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth from June 2017 to November 2019. She is also the Deputy Minister Champion of the Federal Youth Network.

Christiane has also held several positions at the Privy Council Office, including Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Communications and Consultations; Director of Operations, Policy, in the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Relations Secretariat; and Director General of Communications.

Christiane has a  B.A. in Mass Communications and Psychology from Carleton University and is a graduate of the University of Ottawa's Master's Certificate Program in Public Administration.

Gaveen Cadotte
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Public Service Renewal Secretariat, Privy Council Office

Gaveen Cadotte joined the Privy Council Office to lead the Public Service Renewal Secretariat in October 2024. Prior she was Assistant Deputy Minister at Canadian Heritage and led Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and the development of the Action Plan on Combatting Hate.. Formerly, as Vice-President, Policy and Communications at the Public Service Commission, Gaveen lead a sector responsible for policy and regulatory development, political activities and non-partisanship, intergovernmental and international engagements, outreach as well as communications and parliamentary affairs.

Prior to these roles, Gaveen served as the Director of Operations (Compensation and Leadership) at the Privy Council Office, where she was responsible for a range of policies and programs to support the management of Governor in Council appointees. Gaveen also previously served as Director General, Workforce Management at Employment and Social Development Canada, and Director General, Integrated Classification and Staffing Solutions at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Gaveen holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Management Information Systems and Human Resources Management) from the University of Ottawa and a professional certification in Human Resources Management.

Caroline Xavier
Chief, Communications Security Establishment Canada and Deputy Minister Champion for Racialized Employees

Caroline Xavier was appointed to the position of Chief, of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) effective 31 August, 2022.

Prior to this, Caroline held the position of Associate Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, where she was appointed February 2020. From 2017 to 2020 Caroline was the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence at the Privy Council Office. Prior to that she occupied numerous key positions within the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), including Vice-President and Associate Vice-President of the Operations Branch.

Before joining the CBSA, she held executive positions with CSE, Industry Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency. Caroline has been with the public service for over 30 years.

Caroline is a graduate of the University of Ottawa (Bachelor's degree in Administration, concentration in Marketing and Informatics) and of Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia (Executive Master's degree in Electronic Commerce).

Ian Stedman
Jocelyne Bourgon Visiting Scholar, Canada School of Public Service

Ian Stedman is an Associate Professor of Canadian Public Law and Governance and the Graduate Program Director in the School of Public Policy and Administration in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University. Further to his BA and MA in Philosophy, Ian earned an undergraduate Certificate in Ethics (Western) and a graduate Diploma in Value Theory and Applied Ethics (York). His interest in ethics led to him becoming a lawyer and, after some years of practising law, an employee of the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario. Ian's research at York is largely focused on advancing the public's understanding of and engagement with issues of public sector ethics and accountability.

Ian is also a person who lives with a rare genetic condition, which has led to his interest in healthcare law and policy. Prior to joining York University, Ian held the inaugural research Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence Law and Ethics at the Centre for Computational Medicine at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and then a post-doctoral fellowship at York University, where he researched the governance of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

In October 2024, Ian joined the Canada School of Public Service as a visiting scholar through the Jocelyne Bourgon Visiting Scholar Initiative. In this role, he will support the School in advancing its activities related to public service values and ethics.

Dominic Rochon
Deputy Minister and Chief Information Officer of Canada, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Dominic Rochon was appointed Deputy Minister at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) and Chief Information Officer of Canada on February 12, 2024.

Before joining TBS, he was the Associate Deputy Minister at Transport Canada, following three years as the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of National Security and Cybersecurity at Public Safety Canada. He has also held senior roles in central agencies, including the Privy Council Office and TBS, and with the Communications Security Establishment.

Dominic has extensive experience in strategic policy, strategic planning, strategic communications and in overseeing a range of operational issues within the Government of Canada.

Dominic received his B.A. (Honours) in Political Science, International Politics from the University of Ottawa. He is married with two children.

Zabeen Hirji
Special Advisor to the Clerk of the Privy Council

Zabeen is an executive advisor to both the private and public sectors, as a thought leader in Future of Work, leadership, culture, purpose, skills-based economy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Zabeen had a distinguished career at RBC, culminating as Chief Human Resources Officer for ten years until her retirement in 2017, with oversight for 80,000 employees across diverse businesses in forty countries.

She serves as Special Advisor to the Clerk of the Privy Council, Co-Chairs the City of Toronto Economic Advisory Panel, and is Executive-in-Residence at Simon Fraser University Beedie School of Business. Active in the not-for-profit sector, Zabeen serves on the Board of the Public Policy Forum and the Board of Governors for JA (Junior Achievement) Worldwide. She is a member of the Advisory Council of University Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity, the Advisory Board of University of Toronto’s Reach Alliance, and the Advisory Board of Migrant Integration in the 21st Century: Bridging Divides, a research program at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Zabeen has received numerous recognitions, including the Canadian HR Awards Ivey Business School Lifetime Achievement in HR Leadership, Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal for Diversity and Inclusion, SFU Outstanding Alumni Award, Catalyst Canada Honour for championing women and minorities in business, Top 25 Women of Influence, and three-time WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women awardee and a Hall of Fame inductee.

Taki Sarantakis
President, Canada School of Public Service

Taki Sarantakis has been President of the Canada School of Public Service since July 2018, having previously served as Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Mr. Sarantakis spent most of his career at Infrastructure Canada, including as Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy and Communications.

In 2011 Mr. Sarantakis was awarded Canada’s Public Service Award of Excellence in Public Policy, and in 2013 he was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Prior to joining the federal government, Mr. Sarantakis was a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. from York University in Toronto, as well as an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is a graduate of the Rotman School of Management’s Institute of Corporate Directors Education Program, holding the ICD.D designation.

Naina Sloan
Acting President, Pacific Economic Development Canada

Naina assumed the role of Acting President of Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) on June 21, 2024.

In February 2021, Ms. Sloan was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, B.C., for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), with a mandate to establish PacifiCan. She became Vice President, Programs and Partners when PacifiCan was launched in August 2021.

Prior to joining PacifiCan, Ms. Sloan was the Regional Director General for the West and North at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), where she provided leadership on program, intergovernmental, and transboundary files for a region covering more than half of Canada’s land mass. Prior to joining ECCC, Ms. Sloan led Natural Resources Canada’s Indigenous Partnerships Office (West) and served in multiple executive roles at WD.

Before joining the federal public service, Ms. Sloan was the Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, at Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc., which developed, negotiated, and delivered the $2B P3 rapid transit line connecting Vancouver, Richmond, and the Vancouver International Airport.

Kimberly Lavoie
Assistant Deputy Minister, Nòkwewashk, Natural Resources Canada

Kimberly is a mother, proud Mi’kmaq, a seasoned leader in Canada’s public service, and the Assistant Deputy Minister of Nòkwewashk.

Throughout her 25+-year federal government career, a significant part of Kimberly’s work has focused on responding to the needs and concerns of marginalized Canadians. One of Kimberly’s greatest gifts is her ability to bridge the divide between community and government.

Since 2019, Kimberly has worked at Natural Resources Canada. In her current position, she is responsible for leading the Department’s reconciliation and regulatory efforts, as well as Indigenous inclusion in the natural resource sector. Prior to this role, she served as Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Mineral Policy and Critical Minerals.

Kimberly graduated from Carleton University with Honours in Law and lives in Ottawa.

Paul Thompson
Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development Canada

Paul Thompson was appointed Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development on September 18, 2023. Previously, he served as Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement, beginning in January 2022, and as Associate Deputy Minister at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, starting in November 2017.

Prior to these roles, Paul has held several senior executive positions at Employment and Social Development Canada, such as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the Skills and Employment Branch, as well as executive positions in various departments, including the Privy Council Office, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Paul holds a master of arts degree in economics from Queen’s University and a bachelor of arts degree in economics and political science from the University of Toronto. He is a father of three and enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities.

Nadia Theodore
Head of the Permanent Mission of Canada in Geneva, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, UN Trade and Development, International Trade Centre and World Intellectual Property Organization

Nadia Theodore (BA Hons and MA [Political Science], Carleton University; LLB, University of London) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in 2004 as a trade negotiator. During her time as a federal public servant, she has held progressively senior roles in economic, international, and social policy, including at the Canada Revenue Agency and Public Safety Canada. She served at the permanent mission in Geneva from 2009 to 2012 and as consul general in Atlanta from 2017 to 2020.

Most recently, Ms. Theodore was a senior vice president at Maple Leaf Foods, a Canadian consumer packaged goods company and the first major food company in the world to be carbon neutral.

Patrick Boucher
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada

Patrick Boucher joined Public Safety Canada as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (SADM) for the National and Cyber Security Branch (NCSB) in March 2023.

Before his appointment to Public Safety Canada, Patrick served as the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) at Indigenous Services Canada. In that role, he led a large regionally based sector that provided direct health services and supports to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners. His mandate was to provide effective, sustainable, and culturally appropriate health programs and services, including: direct primary health care and emergency services to communities; public health and community-based health promotion and programming; capital funding for health facilities; supplementary health benefits to First Nations and Inuit across the country; and work to promote alignment between federal, provincial, and territorial health systems, with the ultimate goal of transferring control of health programs and services to Indigenous partners. He also led efforts on a variety of major Government of Canada priorities related to reconciliation, including Indigenous Health Legislation, Health System Transformation, and Anti-Indigenous Racism in health systems, and provided overall leadership in responding to the COVID-19 global pandemic impacting Indigenous communities.

He is a proud citizen of the Métis Nation, a dedicated and passionate public servant, a recipient of the Public Service Award of Excellence for demonstrating excellence in achieving results for Canadians while showcasing key leadership competencies, and is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, awarded to Canadians who have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to their communities and to Canada as a whole.

Raoul Ntwali
Issues Manager, Canada Revenue Agency

Raoul joined the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in 2019, starting his public service journey as a Tax Auditor. Since then, he has embraced roles with growing responsibility such as Senior Financial and Resource Management Analyst, Tax Audit Team Leader, and National Coordinator of the CRA YPN (a professional growth network). Currently, he serves as an Issues Manager for the CRA Compliance Programs Branch.

Before his time at the CRA, Raoul gained valuable experience across various sectors related to finance and public policy, including positions at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Rwanda Stock Exchange, and the Rwanda Capital Markets Authority.

At the CRA, Raoul is honored to have led the Agency’s largest employee-led network and has contributed significantly to various leadership development programs. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring the natural beauty and warm community of Epekwitk (PEI), where he lives.

Nathalie Morin
Director General, Environment and Climate Change Canada

As Director General of the Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate, Nathalie Morin works to advance scientific research and innovation in air quality, climate, and meteorological science. She leads science teams that promote and apply atmospheric monitoring and earth observation systems to address Government of Canada science and policy priorities. Nathalie also develops and nurtures key partnerships, both at the national and international levels, which are essential for her Directorate to deliver on its commitments.

Aiesha Zafar
Assistant Deputy Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Aiesha Zafar has over 20 years of experience in public safety at the federal and provincial levels, primarily in intelligence, national security, and investigations. Before joining Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in the fall of 2023 as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Migration Integrity, Aiesha held the role of Director General, Intelligence and Investigations, at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), where she was responsible for intelligence operations, programs and policy; criminal investigations, and the National Targeting Centre.

Aiesha started her public service career in 2001, specializing in national security intelligence with the Communications Security Establishment. After an assignment in Washington as the Deputy Canadian Special Liaison Officer at the National Security Agency, she joined the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General. There, she managed the province’s Police Inspection and Advisory Program and a police applicant assessment program, while developing an extensive network of public safety professionals. As the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Solicitor General, she wrote a proposal to establish Ontario’s Office of the Provincial Security Advisor, after observing gaps between federal national security policy and provincial program delivery. Immediately prior to returning to the federal public service, Aiesha served as Executive Lead in the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Investigations and Organized Crime Command. Working closely with other police agencies, she helped develop new methods and models to reduce public safety threats to Ontarians.

Mark Schaan
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Artificial Intelligence, Privy Council Office

Mark Schaan was appointed Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet – Artificial Intelligence in July of 2024. In this role, he supports the overall AI agenda, seeking to position Canada for leadership in its responsible development and use.

Prior to this, Mark served as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategy and Innovation Policy at the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). In this role, he led the overall micro-economic and innovation agenda, including supporting the development of the department’s horizontal policy and strategic priorities, including in international affairs, telecommunications, economic security, and all aspects of marketplace frameworks.

Mark earned his BA (Honours) from the University of Waterloo in Political Science with an Honours Option in Peace and Conflict Studies in 2002, where he studied as a Loran Scholar. He earned his MPhil in Comparative Social Policy, conferred in 2004, and his DPhil in Social Policy, conferred in 2010 from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. Mark is also actively involved in his community, chairing the board of the Ottawa Art Gallery, continuing his involvement with the Loran Scholars Foundation, and having previously led the Ten Oaks Project for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and families.

Ima Okonny
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Data Officer at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

As Chief Data Officer at ESDC, Ima spearheads enterprise-wide initiatives to advance Data Science, Data Management, and Data Sharing, directly supporting the department’s policy development, service delivery, and results reporting.

Ima has been instrumental in driving significant enhancements to the evidence base and has successfully established Data Literacy programs, Data Strategies, and Policies. She has also led the development of Artificial Intelligence and Data Ethics Frameworks, along with core tools for assessing and managing data-related risks.

Ima’s educational background is in Mathematics, Computer Programming, and Public Management. Her leadership and achievements within the Government of Canada have been recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Award by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) and the global Insight 250 award, celebrating her contributions to data-driven insights and impactful leadership.

Natasha Clarke
Deputy Minister, Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions, Government of Nova Scotia

Natasha is a passionate, values-driven leader that empowers her teams to design and deliver solutions that put user needs first. As the public’s digital expectations continue to rise, Natasha meets – and exceeds – these expectations by placing Nova Scotians at the heart of what she does. Her mission is simple: build programs and services that are easy and accessible for the people that use them.

She does this by investing in people, challenging outdated mindsets, and creating meaningful partnerships inside and outside the organization. With over 25 years of experience navigating the evolving digital landscape in Nova Scotia and beyond, Natasha inspires the people around her through her courageous leadership and commitment to all Nova Scotians.

Valerie Pisano
President and CEO of Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute

Founded by Professor Yoshua Bengio, Mila is recognized as a global leader in scientific advances that inspire innovation and the development of AI for the benefit of all.

Valerie has 20 years of experience in leadership, strategy, and transformation, including her role as Chief Talent Officer at Cirque du Soleil, as well as being a co-founder of The Mobïus Bias Project, an initiative focused on diversity and female leadership.

She began her career at McKinsey & Company after earning a Master’s Degree in Economics at HEC Montreal. Valerie is also a Board Director at Montreal International and at Chartwell.