Subscribe to our newsletter
Events
— How to attend
— Practical AI
— Digital Independence
— Innovation & AI at all levels: Live from Montreal
— Global Case Studies
— Executive Cohort
— Past Events
Info
— 2026 Speakers
— About us
— Updates
— Advisory Board
— Past speakers
— Regional Access Pass
— Venue for July Event
Get Involved
— Attend FWD50
— Join the community
— Partner with us
— Regional Access Pass
Contact us
— Contact us
— FAQ
speaker photo

Julie Leese (She / her)

Digital Strategist | Change Agent, Independent Consultant

Julie Leese is a retired senior executive with over 35 years in the federal public service, where her work spanned six different departments and agencies and where she developed a long-standing passion for driving change.

What began as a career in cartography at the Department of National Defence evolved into leading major transformation initiatives across programs, policy, and technology at Public Works, Agriculture Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat, Correctional Services Canada and finally Transport Canada.

As Chief Digital Officer and ADM of Transformation at Transport Canada, she led department-wide digital transformation—including legislative reform, service modernization, advanced data analytics, technology innovation, and culture change.

Since retiring in 2022 to travel and enjoy life, Julie has returned to the digital space through consulting, supporting public sector organizations on their transformation journeys through both her own independent practice and as an Associate with the Institute on Governance.

Sessions

Digital leadership lessons: A fireside chat with Julie Leese

October 28, 20261:45 PM EDT – 2:15 PM EDT
Julie Leese laid the groundwork for change and modernization at Transport Canada; in this conversation we'll learn how she set the stage for the department, what other leaders can do, and how to separate the veneer of solutionism from the real work of solving hard problems. See More.

Digital leadership lessons: Synthesis Workshop

October 28, 20262:15 PM EDT – 3:45 PM EDT
This interactive workshop will explore the change management challenge at the heart of digital and AI transformation.  Following a brief framing discussion, participants will work together in a facilitated table-top exercise to identify the barriers they encounter, explore opportunities to overcome them, and share practical approaches drawn from their own experience. See More.