Executive Leadership Program

Description

Registration is now open for Cohort 18 & 19.

COHORT 18 (Hybrid):

• In Person sessions at IOG Office, Ottawa:
• Executive Retreat: March 23 + 24, 2026
• June 15 + 16, 2026
• Final Sessions: October 5 + 6, 2026
• All other sessions are virtual over Zoom (3 sessions monthly: 1 late afternoon session (1.5 hrs) + 2 full afternoons)
• Registration Deadline: Monday, March 9, 2026

COHORT 19 (Hybrid):

• In Person sessions at IOG Office, Ottawa:
• Executive Retreat: June 9 + 10, 2026
• October 14 + 15, 2026
• Final Sessions: January 12 + 13, 2027
• All other sessions are virtual over Zoom (3 sessions monthly: 1 late afternoon session (1.5 hrs) + 2 full afternoons)
• Registration Deadline: Monday, May 26, 2026

For future cohorts, please express your interest here. 

Our Executive Leadership Program (ELP) prepares public sector leaders (EX1 or EX2, Director or Senior Director level) across departments and jurisdictions tasked to navigate the deep and rapid changes of our times.

Program Curriculum

This program equips executives with executives with skills for navigating complex challenges, fostering innovation, and driving transformational change in the public sector. Participants explore six core themes to develop the mindset and tools needed to be an effective leader: Resilience, Vision and Strategies, Ambiguity, Collaboration, Complexity, and Innovation and Change. As part of the program, participants also receive personalized executive coaching sessions, enhanced by psychometric tools that provide deeper insights and guidance into their leadership journeys. ELP helps participants deepened their strategic thinking, expand their networks, and lead with purpose in service to Canadians.

Program Benefits

•   You will discuss the latest, citizen-centric thinking on governance in the post-pandemic 'new normal'

•   You will be able to cut through the 'noise' of the current times to make critical decisions on resource allocation and to get results for audiences that matter

•   You will emerge more confident in your abilities as a people-leader and better able to respond to the leadership challenges you will face as your career progresses 

Program fee: $18,000

*As a not-for-profit, the IOG does not collect HST
**Includes tuition, all course materials and online tools used during the course as well as access to course resources after the program is completed. The IOG will offer the rental of a computer with all required software installed for participants. Any equipment being provided to participants will be loaned to you in-person during the Executive Retreat. The IOG will organize and cover the cost of equipment return at the end of the program.

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

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.”

Facilitators

Participants will benefit from the guidance and experience of the mentioned facilitators per cohort:

Peter Bruce
Faculty, ELP Facilitator

Peter Bruce is a Senior Associate for Leadership and Learning at the Institute on  Governance (IOG).  Since 2017, he has been facilitating the IOG’s Executive  Leadership Program. He has also provided advice on digital strategies for  government organizations both in Canada and internationally.  After 32 years of Public Service at the federal and provincial levels Mr. Bruce retired from the position of Senior ADM Strategy at Shared Services Canada in 2016. During his time in the Public Service, he worked in increasingly complex and interesting roles including VP/CIO/CTO at the Department of Justice, Library and Archives Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and as Deputy CIO and Interim CIO for the Government of Canada at Treasury Board Secretariat. Mr. Bruce also has extensive governance experience collaborating internationally, across Canadian jurisdictions, across the federal government, and with the private sector. He has been the elected or appointed chair of several organizations including the ICA (the International CIO Council), the PSCIOC (Canadian Public Sector CIO Council) and DPI (The Association of Public Sector Information Professionals). He currently serves on the Board of the charity Kids Up Front Ottawa on the Advisory Board for DPI.  He holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Ottawa and an MBA from Queen's University. Mr. Bruce has also studied cognitive science and continues to explore leadership and the transformational possibilities created by advances in information and communications technology including artificial intelligence.

Francie Ducros 
Faculty, ELP Facilitator

Francoise (Francie) Ducros retired from the federal Public Service in 2020 where she  served as Assistant Secretary, Social and Cultural Programs, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, for 4 years. Prior to that Francie served as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, and Assistant Deputy  Minister, Education and Social Programs and Partnerships at the Department Affairs Aboriginal and Northern Affairs and Vice-President, Afghanistan-Pakistan Policy and Programs at the Canadian International Development Agency. Francie also served in several political positions including Chief of Staff to the Ministers of Fisheries and Oceans, and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Director of Communications to the Prime Minister.

Neil Bouwer
Guest Facilitator

Neil Bouwer is a Professor of Practice at the Max Bell School and the former Vice-President of the Innovation and Skills Development Branch at the Canada School of Public Service. He has also served as an Assistant Deputy Minister at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the Privy Council Office of Canada; and in executive positions at the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada. He has also worked at the Department of Finance and Western Economic Diversification Canada, and has Economics degrees from McGill University and St. Thomas University. For many years Neil actively supported the Government of Canada policy and data communities, the Advanced Policy Analyst Program and the Free Agent HR Program. Neil is excited to bring his many years of Public Service experience to his work with the Institute on Governance.