Academy

Change Leadership in the Public Sector

Success in the public service requires managing amidst greater uncertainty, complexity, and the rapid emergence of new technologies, while delivering on rising expectations for excellence in policy, programs and services.  From leading new projects, adapting business processes, managing workforce adjustment, to integrating data and AI into your team’s work, managing change is part of the reality of public service.  In this context, all leadership is change leadership.  Effective leaders need to anticipate, motivate and implement change both within their organisations and in collaboration with external partners.  This is particularly true as capacity and resources shrink. 

In this two-day course, students will learn skills and strategies to be effective change leaders, guided by two former senior public servants: Neil Bouwer and Rachel Wernick.

Program dates

When: March 30-31, 2026
Where: Downtown Ottawa
Includes lunch
Application deadline: March 20, 2026

Program Cost

Regular pricing: $1,900 per person
Member pricing (15% discount for PPF members): $1,616 per person

Who should attend

This learning program is designed specifically for public servants who are leading or taking part in change (e.g. resource cuts, technological adoption, new team configuration, new system adoption, change in priorities or mandate, etc.).

Program highlights

In-depth exploration of the change drivers affecting the public sector and the particular challenges they bring to sustaining, renewing and transforming the achievement of excellence in policy, programs and services.
Practical tips and tools for successfully leading change drawn from real experience and analysis of lessons learned.
Individualized roadmap to translate program learnings into concrete actions and personal development that can be pursued post completion.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of the program, participants will:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of current and emerging drivers of change and their particular impact on the public service.
Be equipped, with a foundational understanding of change management theory and its application to leading change within the public service.
Acquire a new toolkit of strategies for successfully navigating and leading change
Understand the skills, practices and mindsets required to be an effective change leader and how to further their own development in these areas.

Pedagogical approach

Learners will:

Acquire practical knowledge and tools drawn from the lived experience of two senior public service leaders, including through the exploration of case studies and personal lessons learned.
Participate in facilitated discussions with peers to understand different challenges and approaches to change management in various government contexts.
Develop a personal roadmap for leading the change they are currently, or soon will be, managing.

Bilingualism

Program Directors are bilingual and will encourage participation in both official languages. Resource material will be made available in both official languages; however, some optional materials may not be available in both languages.

Agenda

Day 1

8:30 – 9:15	Icebreaker, introductions and program objectives
ANTICIPATORY LEADERSHIP: UNDERSTANDING THE DRIVERS OF CHANGE
9:15 – 10:15	Presentation – Overview of the drivers of change: policy, government, program, corporate
10:15 – 10:30	Break
10:45 – 11:15	Workbook: Individual mapping of drivers followed by small group discussions
11:30 – 12:00	Plenary reflections
12:00 – 1:00	Lunch
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP: NAVIGATING THE DYNAMICS OF CHANGE
1:00 – 2:15	Presentation: Review of both longstanding and emerging dynamics of change, e.g., risk aversion, digital government, etc.
2:15 – 2:30	Break
2:30 – 3:30	Small group exercise
3:30 – 4:00	Plenary discussion
4:00 – 4:30	Reflections

Day 2

8:30 – 9:00	Day 1 recap and day 2 objectives
CHANGE LEADERSHIP: APPLYING STRATEGY
9:00 – 10:30	Presentation on strategies. E.g., coalition building, innovation and experimentation, etc.
10:30 – 10:45	Break
10:45 – 12:00	Leadership through downsizing case study
12:00 – 1:00	Lunch
PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER
1:00 – 1:45	Key leadership skills, practices and mindsets
1:45 – 2:30	Individual work on strategies followed by small group discussions
2:30 – 2:45	Break
2:45 – 3:30	Presentations in plenary
3:30 – 4:00	Final reflections and wrap up

Speakers

Program Directors

Neil Bouwer

Neil Bouwer is a Professor of Practice at the Max Bell School and the former Vice-President of the Innovation and Skills Development Branch at the Canada School of Public Service.

He has also served as an Assistant Deputy Minister at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the Privy Council Office of Canada; and in executive positions at the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada.

He has also worked at the Department of Finance and Western Economic Diversification Canada, and has Economics degrees from McGill University and St. Thomas University. For many years Neil actively supported the Government of Canada policy and data communities, the Advanced Policy Analyst Program and the Free Agent HR Program.
Rachel Wernick

Rachel Wernick is a Fellow with the Public Policy Forum and the Program Director for the Policy Leadership Program. Rachel is an accomplished leader having gained experience in a variety of executive roles at Canadian Heritage, the Privy Council Office, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and Public Works and Government Services Canada. She retired from the federal public service in May 2023 after a distinguished career that culminated in her role as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Skills and Employment at Employment and Social Development Canada.