GovConnect Canada & Cyber Security Connect

Driving Modernization and a Digital First Approach in Government

Registration Opens

Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks

Opening Panel: Beyond the Hype of ChatGPT: How to Approach Generative AI in the Public Sector

Somaieh Nikpoor
Lead AI Strategy and Data Science
Government of Canada

Cezary Gesikowski
AI Researcher
Government of Canada

• Determining what role generative AI should play in government
• Examining potential use cases from coding to communications
• Analyzing the potential risks and benefits for different departments and lines of business
• How will this change team structures and how public sector employees work?
• Identifying opportunities to realize efficiencies, enabling teams to spend time on more complex and higher value tasks
• Governing AI: Determining what regulatory guardrails need to be in place for employees leveraging generative AI responsibly
• Creating a roadmap for testing and monitoring to protect against unintentional outcomes

Data Culture Enablement in the Federal Government

Paul Gaskin
Director General, Planning, Operations and Information Branch
Canadian Forest Service | Natural Resources Canada

Interactive Roundtable Discussions | 2 Rotations | 40 Minutes Each

Day One features 5 tables, each discussing a unique topic:

• Table 1 – AI and Automation: Exploring Opportunities to Augment Operations and Service Delivery
• Table 2 – Citizen Centred Design: Creating an Inclusive, Accessible Digital Service Experience
• Table 3 – Next Generation Workforce: Structuring Teams, and Leveraging Digital Tools for Project Success in a Hybrid Environment
• Table 4 – Data Storytelling is Your Superpower: The Value of Data and Communicating it Effectively within Government
• Table 5 – Navigating the Ins and Outs of Digital Communications and Social Media in the Public Sector

To see how the Interactive Roundtable format will work, learn more here.

Morning Coffee Break

Interactive Roundtable Discussion | 1 Rotation | 40 Minutes

Day One features 5 tables, each discussing a unique topic:

• Table 1 – AI and Automation: Exploring Opportunities to Augment Operations and Service Delivery
• Table 2 – Citizen Centred Design: Creating an Inclusive, Accessible Digital Service Experience
• Table 3 – Next Generation Workforce: Structuring Teams, and Leveraging Digital Tools for Project Success in a Hybrid Environment
• Table 4 – Data Storytelling is Your Superpower: The Value of Data and Communicating it Effectively within Government
• Table 5 – Navigating the Ins and Outs of Digital Communications and Social Media in the Public Sector

To see how the Interactive Roundtable format will work, learn more here.

Networking Lunch

Let’s Talk Talent: Improving DEI, Staying Competitive, and Supporting Highly Skilled Professionals in the Public Sector

Liz McKeown
Executive Director, Digital Community Management Office, Treasury Board Secretariat
Government of Canada

Erica Vezeau
Director General, Digital Academy, Innovation and Skills Development Branch, Canada School of Public Service
Digital Academy

• Approaches to improving DEI in the public sector workforce
• Designing recruitment campaigns, and an application process to support inclusion
• Talent management techniques
• How to develop and support employee career paths to promote growth and talent retention
• Facilitating cross training
• Recognizing the tempo needed to recruit, hire and train to avoid skills shortages
• Determining the right skillset for projects, above and beyond technical IT/IM

Interactive Roundtable Discussions | 2 Rotations | 40 Minutes Each

Day One features 5 tables, each discussing a unique topic:

• Table 1 – AI and Automation: Exploring Opportunities to Augment Operations and Service Delivery
• Table 2 – Citizen Centred Design: Creating an Inclusive, Accessible Digital Service Experience
• Table 3 – Next Generation Workforce: Structuring Teams, and Leveraging Digital Tools for Project Success in a Hybrid Environment
• Table 4 – Data Storytelling is Your Superpower: The Value of Data and Communicating it Effectively within Government
• Table 5 – Navigating the Ins and Outs of Digital Communications and Social Media in the Public Sector

To see how the Interactive Roundtable format will work, learn more here.

Afternoon Coffee Break

A Roadmap to Adopting a Multidisciplinary Approach to Product Development

Lauren Hunter
Director, Talent Policy and Platforms, Digital Talent and Leadership Sector
Office of the Chief Information Officer of Canada

Diving Deeper into Service Delivery with Data Insights

Closing Remarks and Networking Reception

Registration and Continental Breakfast

Conference Chair’s Opening Remarks

Hamza Ahmed
Senior Cyber Security Specialist
Government of Canada

Keynote

Mitigating the Cyber Risks of Disruptive Technologies, and a Digital First Approach within Government

2 Roundtables

Day Two features 5 tables, each discussing a unique topic:

• Table 1 – Artificial Intelligence: Assessing the Implications for the Organization
• Table 2 – Threat Hunting and Cyber Threat Intelligence: Strategies for Tracking Down Advanced Cyber Adversaries
• Table 3 – Securing the Cloud: Top Considerations for Creating a Safe Cloud Environment
• Table 4 – Hybrid Workforce: Top Security and Privacy Pitfalls
• Table 5 – Insider Threats – Detection and Prevention

To see how the Interactive Roundtable format will work, learn more here.

Morning Coffee Break

Preparing for a New Age of Cyber Warfare: Thwarting Malicious Attacks on Critical Public Infrastructure

Cyber warfare against a country can be severely damaging, and dangerous. From service attacks to the dissemination of misinformation–citizen safety at risk when critical infrastructure is compromised. This session will provide a snapshot of the current landscape of state-sponsored cyber programs in China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, trends in the tactics they use, and what can be done to prepare for this new aggressive era of malicious cyber activity.

Networking Lunch

2 Roundtables

Day Two features 5 tables, each discussing a unique topic:

• Table 1 – Artificial Intelligence: Assessing the Implications for the Organization
• Table 2 – Threat Hunting and Cyber Threat Intelligence: Strategies for Tracking Down Advanced Cyber Adversaries
• Table 3 – Securing the Cloud: Top Considerations for Creating a Safe Cloud Environment
• Table 4 – Hybrid Workforce: Top Security and Privacy Pitfalls
• Table 5 – Insider Threats – Detection and Prevention

To see how the Interactive Roundtable format will work, learn more here.

Special Focus on Investigations and Enforcement

Cracking Down on Cyber Crime: How to Set Investigations up for Success—Key Takeaways from Recent Cases

Jason Greeley
Director General, Cybercrime, Federal Policing Criminal Operations
RCMP

• Coordinating resources, information sharing and ongoing analysis domestically and internationally to advance complex cybercrime investigations
• Analyzing notable cybercrime cases
• Success stories, and practical takeaways for future investigations
• Identifying new schemes and tactics that emerged during the pandemic

Afternoon Networking and Refreshment Break

1 Roundtable

Day Two features 5 tables, each discussing a unique topic:

• Table 1 – Artificial Intelligence: Assessing the Implications for the Organization
• Table 2 – Threat Hunting and Cyber Threat Intelligence: Strategies for Tracking Down Advanced Cyber Adversaries
• Table 3 – Securing the Cloud: Top Considerations for Creating a Safe Cloud Environment
• Table 4 – Hybrid Workforce: Top Security and Privacy Pitfalls
• Table 5 – Insider Threats – Detection and Prevention

To see how the Interactive Roundtable format will work, learn more here.

Closing Panel

Optimizing Cyber Security Operations: Technology, Talent, and Resource Management

• Understanding the importance of recruiting and retaining the “right” talent
• Identifying the cyber security skills required to work effectively in the current sophisticated threat landscape
• Resource management best practices—how to optimize the team, and tools you have in the organization

Closing Remarks and Networking Reception