Let’s Chat: Evolving Data Governance for an AI‑Driven Public Service

In this interview, Vanessa Kientega, A/Director of Enterprise Data & AI Governance at the Employment and Social Development Canada explains how data governance in government has transformed from a restrictive, compliance‑driven function into a strategic enabler of innovation. Departments are moving away from blocking data use toward supporting it through stewardship, data masking, standardization, clearer accountability, and creating environments where data can be used safely and creatively.

Cross‑departmental collaboration now relies on joint data strategies, shared standards, trusted agreements, and careful management of secondary data use. Trust and compliance between partners—especially when departments co‑develop standards or share sensitive information—are highlighted as essential to responsible data practices.

As AI‑enabled services expand, privacy protections must adapt. The interviewee stresses that outdated privacy laws struggle with modern risks such as re‑identification through predictive analytics. Transparency, explainability, clear purpose‑based data use, and human oversight are becoming crucial to maintaining public trust. 

Looking ahead, enterprise data governance will shift from policy creation to “governance in action,” where stewardship, readiness of data within tools, collaboration between governance and data management teams, and practical enablement become the priority. The next era of Government 3.0 will depend on actionable governance that prepares data to be usable, trustworthy, and aligned with public expectations.