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Élise Legendre (she/her)

Chief Data Officer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Élise was appointed Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Chief Data Officer in the summer of 2021.  She leads a small, passionate team of policy and IT professionals dedicated to harnessing and unleashing the power of data to improve service delivery and to support the sector’s sustainable growth. 
In 2003, after having worked in strategic marketing in the private sector for nearly 12 years, her career with the federal public service began as a Commerce Officer with AAFC.  She has since held positions in several branches, including Strategic Policy, Corporate Management and Programs.  She is passionate about the role of government and the impact it can have to improve the quality of life for Canadians.  
Élise holds a Master's in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, BC) and a bachelor's degree in Arts, major in Political Sciences from Laval University (Sainte Foy, QC).

Sessions

Workshop

FWD50 Extras: An Innovative Approach to Attracting and Developing Talent

The Government of Canada faces a growing demand for skilled technology professionals, but competition from the private sector can make recruitment a challenge. How can we attract top talent to the public service? Learn how Treasury Board Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are embracing the challenge. You'll also hear how AAFC achieved AI leadership in just six months. Discover their winning strategy: building strong talent pipelines with top Canadian colleges and universities. Join us for an insightful discussion where you’ll learn actionable tips for establishing talent pipelines and building high-performing teams. See More.