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Agenda |

British Columbia 2026

Government Innovation Showcase British Columbia

 Tuesday, 01 Dec 2026

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Sessions

7:45AM

Registration & Networking

7:45 AM - 8:45 AM (60 mins)

8:45AM

Welcome from the Public Sector Network

8:45 AM - 8:50 AM (5 mins)

8:50AM

Welcome from the Chair

8:50 AM - 9:00 AM (10 mins)

9:00AM
Keynote

One Year In: What We've Learned About Building Connected Services

9:00 AM - 9:10 AM (10 mins)

  • Connected services, proven under pressure (wildfire response)
  • Prioritizing what matters: 14 life and business events
  • The foundation made real
9:20AM
Industry Insights

Partner Perspective

9:20 AM - 9:40 AM (20 mins)

Led by KPMG

9:40AM
Keynote

From Vision to Delivery: Building a More Connected Government

9:40 AM - 10:10 AM (30 mins)

Helen Fotos
Assistant Deputy Minister, Connected Services BC
  • Where CSBC is at as an org. 1 year in (what we’ve built)
  • Horizontal leadership and importance of whole-of-government collaboration
  • How people work together to make connected services possible
  • Handoff: From vision to delivery: connected services in action
10:10AM
Industry Insights

Partner Perspective

10:10 AM - 10:30 AM (20 mins)

Led by ServiceNow

10:30AM
Panel Discussion

Delivering Public Value in the Digital Era: Leadership, Technology and Outcomes

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM (30 mins)

Cynthia Johansen
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health, Government of British Columbia
Kevin Jardine
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment & Parks, Government of British Columbia
11:00AM

Morning Networking Break

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM (40 mins)

Two tracks · 11:40 AM - 1:00 PM · Pick one and follow it

11:40AM

11:40 AM - 11:50 AM (10 mins)

11:40AM

Chair Opening

11:40 AM - 11:50 AM (10 mins)

11:40AM

Chair Opening

11:40 AM - 11:50 AM (10 mins)

11:50AM

11:50 AM - 12:10 PM (20 mins)

11:50AM
Panel Discussion

Designing Services Around Life and Business Events: Why the Approach Matters

11:50 AM - 12:10 PM (20 mins)

Alexander Ritchie
A/ADM, Tech Design, Architecture & Cyber, Ministry of Citizens' Services, Government of British Columbia
  • Why "life events" and not programs, the core reframing, diving deeper into how the 14 events were chosen
  • The multiple doors problem solved by "no wrong door" and reducing the effort we ask of people across every channel
  • The benefits of ministry partnerships

The keynote establishes why connected services matter and how government delivers them. This panel goes a level deeper into the philosophy behind why we organize services around life and business events, rather than around programs, ministries, or technology. Panelists unpack what changes for people when government designs around a moment in someone's life, becoming a parent, facing a disability, starting a business, and why this approach, though harder, produces services that are simpler, faster, and more human-centred. It brings the audience from the concept of connected services to the discipline of designing them.

11:50AM
Fireside Chat

Tell Us Once: How Shared Data Leads to Better Government Services

11:50 AM - 12:10 PM (20 mins)

Genevieve Lambert
Senior Executive Director, Ministry of Citizens’ Services, Government of British Columbia
Beth Collins
Executive Director, Connected Services BC, Government of British Columbia
  • Why data interoperability matters
  • What makes data sharing possible? How?
  • Building trust at scale and how the future looks

This fireside chat will explore how shared data, common platforms, and coordinated governance can help transform that experience through a "tell us once" approach, reducing duplication and making government services simpler, faster, and more seamless.

12:10PM

12:10 PM - 12:30 PM (20 mins) Industry Insights

12:10PM

Partner Perspective

12:10 PM - 12:30 PM (20 mins)

Led by Fujitsu

12:10PM

Partner Perspective

12:10 PM - 12:30 PM (20 mins)

Led by Oracle

12:30PM

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (30 mins) Panel Discussion

12:30PM

How to Deliver Seamless, Integrated Services Across Government

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (30 mins)

  • Service at a connected level, bringing together technology and people
  • Pillars: Technology, governance, policy, common standards

This panel will explore what it takes to deliver services that feel seamless to the people who use them, regardless of which ministry, program, or channel is involved. The conversation will focus on the pillars that enable scaling up integration. Speakers will discuss how these elements work together to support collaboration across ministries, improve service coordination, and create the conditions for delivering simpler, more effective, and people-centred services.

12:30PM

How Can Government Share Data to Safely Deliver Better Services?

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (30 mins)

Irene Guglielmi
Executive Director, BC Connecter Services, Government of British Columbia
  • How to safely share data to connect programs and services to the people of B.C.
  • Using authoritative data and eligibility verification factors (EVFs) to streamline program delivery

This panel will explore how trusted data sharing, authoritative data sources, and common standards can simplify eligibility verification, bridge gaps between services, and improve service delivery outcomes. Participants will gain insights into how privacy, security, and trust can be embedded into a connected government approach that benefits both citizens and service providers.

1:00PM

Networking Lunch

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (60 mins)

Two tracks · 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM · Pick one and follow it

2:00PM

2:00 PM - 2:05 PM (5 mins)

2:00PM

Track Chair Welcome Back

2:00 PM - 2:05 PM (5 mins)

2:00PM

Track Chair Welcome Back

2:00 PM - 2:05 PM (5 mins)

2:05PM

2:05 PM - 2:25 PM (20 mins)

2:05PM
Fireside Chat

Inside Connected Services BC: Lessons from Implementation on the Ground

2:05 PM - 2:25 PM (20 mins)

Pam Smith
Chief Information Security Officer/A/Sr Executive Director, Ministry of Citizen Services, Government of British Columbia
Savannah Murphy
Executive Director, Network BC, Connectivity, Connected Services BC
Catherine Chernoff
Executive Director of Experience and Design, Connected Services BC
  • Five branches working together to create a connected service
  • The importance of discovery and shaping human-centred life events

In this fireside chat, the audience will learn how multiple branches are coming together to design and deliver services around real-life events and user needs. The discussion will explore how discovery helps uncover opportunities for better service experiences, and how horizontal leadership, shared accountability, and evolving operating models enable teams to work across traditional boundaries to achieve outcomes that no single branch could deliver alone.

2:05PM
Panel Discussion

How To Advance First Nations Data Sovereignty While Enabling Trusted, Practical Data Use

2:05 PM - 2:25 PM (20 mins)

Eowynn Bosomworth
Executive Director, Data Governance and Sovereignty, Connected Services BC
  • Building trusted data partnerships that respect First Nations data sovereignty and self-determination
  • Enabling practical, responsible data use to support better decision-making and outcomes
  • Exploring governance models, lessons learned and opportunities to advance reconciliation through data

This panel will explore how First Nations data sovereignty and self-determination can be advanced while enabling the responsible use of data to support better decisions, services, and outcomes. Panelists will discuss governance approaches, highlighting how privacy, security, and public trust can be strengthened while advancing reconciliation and creating lasting benefits for communities.

2:25PM

2:25 PM - 2:45 PM (20 mins) Industry Insights

2:25PM

Partner Perspective

2:25 PM - 2:45 PM (20 mins)

Led by Salesforce

2:25PM

Partner Perspective

2:25 PM - 2:45 PM (20 mins)

2:45PM

2:45 PM - 3:05 PM (20 mins)

2:45PM
Fireside Chat

One Workforce, Shared Purpose: Strengthening Partnerships Across Government

2:45 PM - 3:05 PM (20 mins)

Alexander Ritchie
A/ADM, Tech Design, Architecture & Cyber, Ministry of Citizens' Services, Government of British Columbia
  • Workforce transformation and how we now work together as CSBC and CITZ with other ministries
  • Focus on change management
  • Redesigning work in the public sector: People, Processes, and AI

This fireside chat will explore how CSBC, CITZ, and partner ministries are transforming the way they collaborate to deliver services across organizational boundaries. Delivering better outcomes for citizens depends on government's ability to act as one workforce with a shared purpose.

2:45PM
Keynote

Build Transparency into Digital Government from Day One

2:45 PM - 3:05 PM (20 mins)

Michael Harvey
Information and Privacy Commissioner, Government of British Columbia

As services become more connected and automated, public confidence depends on understanding how government decisions are made and how information can be accessed. This session will show how you can build transparency, explainability and effective oversight into digital programs before trust problems emerge.

  • Embed access-to-information and transparency requirements during service and system design
  • Clarify how AI-supported decisions should be documented, explained and challenged
  • Strengthen governance by assigning clear accountability for data, algorithms and public records
  • Prepare your organization to respond openly when digital systems create errors or unintended outcomes
  • Balance legitimate privacy protections with the public’s right to understand government decisions
3:05PM

3:05 PM - 3:25 PM (20 mins) Industry Insights

3:05PM

Partner Perspective

3:05 PM - 3:25 PM (20 mins)

Led by Zoho

3:05PM

Partner Perspective

3:05 PM - 3:25 PM (20 mins)

3:25PM

3:25 PM - 3:55 PM (30 mins) Panel Discussion

3:25PM

Inclusive AI Adoption in the BC Public Service: Advancing Equity, Diversity and Better Outcomes

3:25 PM - 3:55 PM (30 mins)

  • Advancing AI adoption with inclusion, equity and accessibility at the forefront
  • Supporting responsible innovation across the public service
  • Insights from the pilot of AI across government and how they will help shape the future of responsible AI adoption, workforce enablement, and people-centred delivery

The panel will explore how the government can advance AI adoption in ways that are inclusive, equitable, and accessible, ensuring that employees across the public service can benefit from new tools and capabilities. Panelists will discuss emerging opportunities and the role of responsible innovation in building connected, trusted, and people-centred services, while helping shape priorities for the future of work and service delivery.

3:25PM

Strengthening Cybersecurity and Privacy Across Connected Public Services

3:25 PM - 3:55 PM (30 mins)

Wency Lum
Associate Vice President, University Systems & CIO, University of Victoria
Chief Information Security Officer, Port of Nanaimo
Vanessa Thomas
Director of Emerging Technologies, , Information and Privacy Commissioner, Government of British Columbia

Cyber threats and expanding data use are increasing pressure on public sector organizations to coordinate security and privacy controls across institutional boundaries. This session will show how you can align cyber risk, privacy governance and incident readiness while keeping essential services operating.

  • Coordinate cybersecurity and privacy responsibilities across provincial, local and post-secondary organizations
  • Strengthen incident response by defining how security, privacy and operational leaders work together
  • Assess third-party and platform risks before sensitive data moves between systems
  • Apply privacy-by-design and secure-by-design controls to new technologies
  • Prepare your organization to manage breaches, service disruption and regulatory scrutiny
3:55PM

3:55 PM - 4:00 PM (5 mins)

3:55PM

Move to the plenary room

3:55 PM - 4:00 PM (5 mins)

3:55PM

Move to the plenary room

3:55 PM - 4:00 PM (5 mins)

4:00PM
Keynote

Closing Remarks from Government

4:00 PM - 4:10 PM (10 mins)

Drawing on the day's discussions, we will connect the themes of innovation, trust, and integration to the broader future of government services. We will reflect on how today's ideas are already inspiring change across the public sector, what progress requires from government leaders and practitioners, and how Connected Services BC is helping build the foundations for more connected, responsive, and people-centred services.

4:10PM

Closing Remarks from the Chair

4:10 PM - 4:20 PM (10 mins)

4:20PM

Networking Reception

4:20 PM - 5:20 PM (60 mins)

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