Executive Leadership Program

Description

Registration is now open for Cohorts 19 & 20.

COHORT 19 (7 months; In-person):

• Executive Retreat: October 26 + 27, 2026

• January 18 + 19, 2027

• Final Sessions: April 12 + 13, 2027

• Module 4: April 6 + 7 + 8, 2027

• Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 13, 2026

COHORT 20 (7 months; In-person):

• Executive Retreat: March 10 + 11, 2027

• June 16 + 17, 2027

• Final Sessions: October 6 + 7, 2027.

• Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 24, 2027
  

Target Audience: Federal government leaders at Director or Senior Director Level (EX minus 1 and EX minus 2 or equivalent).

Program Curriculum

The Executive Leadership Program equips public sector executives with the mindset, skills, and practical tools to navigate complex challenges, foster innovation, and lead transformational change. Through six core themes—Resilience, Vision and Strategy, Ambiguity, Collaboration, Complexity, and Innovation and Change—participants explore contemporary, citizen-centred approaches to governance and strengthen their ability to lead effectively in a rapidly changing environment.

The curriculum helps participants cut through competing priorities, make sound decisions, allocate resources effectively, and achieve meaningful results for Canadians. It also strengthens the confidence and self-awareness required to lead people, build trusted relationships, and respond effectively to emerging leadership challenges.

Personalized executive coaching and psychometric assessments provide deeper insight into individual leadership strengths and development priorities. Through expert-led discussions, reflective learning, and engagement with a diverse peer network, participants deepen their strategic thinking, expand their professional networks, and lead with greater confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Program Fee: $18,000

• As a not-for-profit organization, the IOG does not collect HST

• The fee includes tuition, meals, course materials, online tools, and continued access to program resources.

Participant Testimonials

• "I am a better public servant from my time spent learning and connecting with my peers in the IOG's virtual Executive Leadership Program. My peers brought in-depth, informed and unique perspectives to the discussions we had in the program that were prompted by the excellent speakers and interesting topics we explored. The program facilitators and IOG staff brought together an incredible learning experience for us while also responding to my and my peers' needs throughout. The depth of knowledge and experience that the facilitators brought was inspirational. I couldn’t have asked for better facilitators."
• "I would absolutely encourage everyone, not just those looking to move up but just to become better in the role they are in, because everyone can be a leader. I think it is a very important program. It really does open up the perspectives and provides some insight into how senior executives approach work and what their expectations might be. It helps to disarm senior executives from my perspective. It allowed me to get better insight into some of the more difficult topics that exist in the Public Service today. Certainly very valuable."

• "I was really happy with the quality of the speakers from the other departments. They really came from the whole array of issues that the Government of Canada is wrestling with these days. We had people talking about business transformation, which I found really really interesting and useful. The exposure to these files were really valuable."

• "I have recommended other colleagues to participate [...] I do think back on these things somewhat routinely. I just did a competition. I pull out the IOG material and refresh on subjects that I forgot. I refer to those materials for interviews. I found it useful and I continue finding it useful."
  

For further inquiries or support, please contact us at registration@iog.ca. 

Facilitators

Peter Bruce
Associate, IOG

Peter Bruce is a Senior Associate for Leadership and Learning at the Institute on Governance and a former senior public service executive with more than 30 years of experience, including serving as Senior ADM at Shared Services Canada and in CIO leadership roles across the Government of Canada. He brings extensive expertise in executive leadership, governance, digital transformation, and emerging technologies, and has facilitated IOG’s Executive Leadership Program since 2017.

Francie Ducros
Associate, IOG

Françoise (Francie) Ducros is a former senior federal public service executive who held leadership roles at the Treasury Board Secretariat, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and the Canadian International Development Agency. She also brings extensive experience at the political–public service interface, having served as Chief of Staff to federal ministers and as Director of Communications to the Prime Minister.

Andrea Johnston
Associate, IOG

Andrea Johnston is a senior executive and strategic advisor with more than 20 years of experience in innovation policy, government relations, and economic development, most recently serving as Assistant Deputy Minister of Innovation Canada at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. She brings extensive experience leading major federal innovation programs, building high-performing and inclusive teams, and advancing people-centred leadership, values, and ethics.