Today I’m delighted to announce the next big adventure for my little family and I.
For my part, I will be joining the inspirational, aspirational and world leading Service Canada to help drive the Benefits Delivery Modernization program with Benoit Long, Tammy Belanger and their wonderful team, in collaboration with our wonderful colleagues across the Canadian Government! This enormous program aims to dramatically improve the experience of Canadians with a broad range of government services, whilst transforming the organization and helping create the digital foundations for a truly responsive, effective and human-centred public sector š
This is a true digital transformation opportunity which will make a difference in the lives of so many people. It provides a chance to implement and really realise the benefits of human-centred service design, modular architecture (and Government as a Platform), Rules as Code, data analytics, life journey mapping, and all I have been working on for the last 10 years. I am extremely humbled and thankful for the chance to work with and learn from such a forward thinking team, whilst being able to contribute my experience and expertise to such an important and ambitious agenda.
I can’t wait to work with colleagues across ESDC and the broader Government of Canada, as well as from the many innovative provincial governments. I’ve been lucky enough to attend FWD50 in Ottawa for the last 3 years, and I am consistently impressed by the digital and public sector talent in Canada. Of course, because Canada is one of the “Digital Nations“, it also presents a great opportunity to collaborate closely with other leading digital governments, as I also found when working in New Zealand.
We’ll be moving to Ottawa in early March, so we will see everyone in Canada soon, and will be using the next month or so packing up, spending time with Australian friends and family, and learning about our new home š
My husband and little one are looking forward to learning about Canadian and Indigenous cultures, learning French (and hopefully some Indigenous languages too, if appropriate!), introducing more z’s into my English, experiencing the cold (yes, snow is a novelty for Australians) and contributing how we can to the community in Ottawa. Over the coming years we will be exploring Canada and I can’t wait to share the particularly local culinary delight that is a Beavertail (a large, flat, hot doughnut like pastry) with my family!
For those who didn’t pick up the reference, the blog title had dual meaning: we are of course heading to Ottawa in the Spring, having had a last Australian Summer for a while (gah!), and it also was a little call out to one of the great Canadian bands, that I’ve loved for years, the Tragically Hip š
Hey Pia, super excited to hear you are coming to Canada. As an Aussie who has already made the move, feel free to reach out with any questions. Iām based in Toronto, but up in Ottawa regularly.
See you soon.
Andrew
Good luck. There are a lot of similarities between Australia and Canada in terms of background, government and challenges. I looked at some of these when studying education at Athabasca University in Canada. But look out for the differences: when one of our student groups was dubbed the “Loonies” I thought it an insult, only later finding out it was a bird. š
The Canadian Government is doing well to add you to their team. You’ll enjoy the change and thrive, as you do wherever you go. We won’t dwell on Australia’s loss (but it is), as you’ve done so much to empower, inspire and share what defines good leadership, thoughtful stewardship in digital transformation. We’re enriched through listening to your endless pearls of wisdom & bringing them into our workplace.
Just keep being an awesome human! <– The Tragically Hip should write a song with lyrics from any one of your talks š
Safe travels my friend & see you on the other side via the interconnected global village!
PS. Your child will be enriched through the experience of learning how to make a proper snowman and you can all take up winter sports.
I came across this article from a colleague, and I just wanted to say hello and welcome to ESDC! I also work in ESDC but within the Programs Operations branch. I am part of a new and small research team trying to leverage CX research and human-centric approaches for our branch as part of its modernization goals. I would love to connect once you are settled in ESDC to get some insights/advice on public service transformation.