Chief Information Officer and Director General, Information Management and Technology Directorate, Department of Finance, Canada
With an impressive 28-year tenure in Information Technology (IT) within the Federal Government (GC), Isabelle is a dynamic force who has sculpted a remarkable career marked by innovation, collaboration, and leadership. Beginning her journey at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Isabelle’s first decade saw her navigate diverse IT roles, an experience enriched by partnerships with influential entities like the Canadian Security Intelligence Services (CSIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Her professional voyage has spanned an array of domains, encompassing programming, customer service, and impactful project management for mission-critical and enterprise systems. In this journey, a fervent devotion to IT security emerged as she continually elevated customer service standards. Notably, she played a pivotal role in devising an innovative threat and risk assessment methodology in collaboration with the esteemed Communications Security Establishment (CSE), which she also taught through evening courses at the Cité Collégiale in Ottawa.
Isabelle’s expertise was further honed through internal IT system audits, propelling her to specialize in identity and access management. Stepping into the leadership realm, she took charge of expansive IT security portfolios, expertly overseeing teams, contracts, finances, and shared services. Remarkably, she spearheaded ambitious initiatives that revamped efficiency, yielding substantial cost savings and impressive returns on investment.
Her leadership acumen found new dimensions as she shouldered the responsibility of operational performance reporting for Shared Services Canada (SSC), an experience that underscored the significance of performance metrics. Notably, she led IT infrastructure, operations, project management, monitoring, and IT security teams at Library and Archives Canada, gaining recognition for transformative endeavors such as establishing a covert network and pioneering secure cloud environments.
At present, Isabelle shines as the Director General and Chief Information Officer at Finance Canada, a role that positions her as an architect of the organization’s digital transformation odyssey. This journey is marked by her active participation in various interdepartmental working groups, a testament to her dedication to shaping cross-government initiatives. Her prominence extends to her role as an engaged and visible member of the DPI advisory council, further underlining her commitment to collaborative ideation and strategic networking.
Embarking on a nearly three-decade journey, Isabelle’s unwavering commitment to excellence, groundbreaking work in IT security, and instrumental contributions to foundational infrastructures set her apart as a visionary leader in the realm of Information Technology. Her trajectory is a testament to the magic of collaboration and networking, and her ongoing mission is to foster collective growth through the fusion of technology and strategic partnerships.