Events

Managing in Complexity Book Event: In Conversation with Dr. Sara Filbee

Complexity, risk, and uncertainty are intrinsic characteristics of the modern public sector landscape. What does this mean for you as someone working in the public sector?  

Join us on May 17, 2024 for a candid fireside chat between Dr. Sara Filbee – a complexity expert with a rich background spanning government, including as an ADM, the private sector, and academia – and Michael Wernick, former clerk of the Privy Council.

The virtual lunchtime webinar will offer practical discussions grounded in real-world experiences, focusing on the following key themes:

• Thinking about complexity.
• Understanding the relevance and implications of complexity for public sector managers.
• Improving effectiveness in a complex world.

The event follows the launch of Dr. Filbee’s book, Managing in Complexity: How Our Fears of Uncertainty Can Hurt Us and What To Do About It. This book is tailored for leaders and managers looking to enhance their effectiveness in an increasingly uncertain and complex landscape.

Participants will come away from the event with a better understanding of complexity and learn valuable strategies to apply in their professional lives.

Register early! The first 10 people to sign up will receive a complimentary copy of Dr. Filbee’s book.

Date: Friday, May 17, 2024

Time: 12:00-1:00 PM

Location: Virtual webinar

Dr. Sara Filbee – Discussant

Dr. Filbee has degrees from Acadia University (B.Sc. Biology), Dalhousie University (MBA / LLB) and a Doctor of Management in Organizational Complexity from the University of Hertfordshire, UK.  

She began her career with the law firm McInnes Cooper & Robertson in Halifax, where she practiced for 11 years, the last three as a corporate law partner. She left the practice of law to take up a position with Peat Marwick Stevenson & Kellogg (later KPMG Management Consulting), heading up the Atlantic Canada outplacement and downsizing practice for the firm. She later became President of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council. Following her term with the Council, she spent three and a half years with CIBC, first as Manager, Corporate Development in the field of Public Private Partnerships and then as Director, Commercial Banking. In 2001, she started a strategic consulting practice and later moved to Ottawa to take up the position of Vice-President, Operations for a start-up company providing web-enabled human resources tools. 

She joined the Public Service of Canada in Industry Canada’s Industry Sector in 2002. In January 2009, she became Assistant Deputy Minister of Lands and Economic Development at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.  In March 2014, she was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, Atlantic Region, for Service Canada. She is currently adjunct with Dalhousie University’s School of Public Administration.

Sara is active in the not-for-profit sector. She lives in Chester, NS with her dog Romeo, and cat Bandit, and enjoys family, friends and community and a wide range of interests including sailing, golf, kayaking, curling, music and reading.

Michael Wernick – Moderator

Michael Wernick holds the Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management at the University of Ottawa. His 38-year career in the federal public service culminated in serving as the 23rd clerk of the Privy Council from 2016 to 2019. He is the author of Governing Canada: A Guide to the Tradecraft of Politics, published by UBC Press in 2021. He contributes regularly to several publications, and advises and mentors emerging leaders and students. He is a senior strategic adviser to MNP Digital Inc.