More than 300 FIs from across the country took part in the ACFO Regional Tune Up event series in January and February, with events in Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg drawing FIs from all levels and dozens of different departments. These professional development events were an opportunity for FIs to hone the skills necessary for career advancement and leadership roles. One of key features of this year’s Regional Tune Ups was inspirational talks on topics of interest to the FI Community including leadership, emotional intelligence, communication and mental health. Speakers included:

• Danièle Sauvageau – Leadership
• Mark Bowden – Effective Communication
• Joe Boughner – Faceless Communications in the Workplace
• Kate Davis – Innovation through Connectivity
• Carolyn Stern – Leading with Emotional Intelligence
• Guy Cabana – Talking Without Words
• Jessica Holmes – The 60 Minute Perspective Makeover

FIs also received a preview of a new career development portal from the Office of the Comptroller General, a knowledge sharing system home to various tools to help public servants unlock their potential and reach their career aspirations. You can view the presentation here. Some of the events also included a presentation on FI selection process that offered tips and tricks on how to successfully pass a job promotion interview as well as a senior management panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of being a manager and insights on financial management. The presentation on FI selection process can be here. FIs and senior managers who participated in panel discussions included:

• François Fortier, Services Director, Employment and Social Development Canada
• Marie-Claude Guérard, Chief Financial Officer, Canadian Space Agency
• Vicky Lefebvre, Director General, Courts Administration Services
• Suzie Bélanger, Director of Planning, Employment and Social Development Canada
• Rui Costa, Director General, Employment and Social Development Canada
• Darwin Campbell, Chief Accounting Operations West Hub, Health Canada
• Angela Murphy, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Sundeep Cheema, A/Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Services Canada
• Bradley Lanthier, Regional Director of Finance, Employment and Social Development Canada
• Phil Morton, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Public Service Commission
• Darin Benson, Director of Finance North West Region, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

“This event [in Montreal] served to bring us all together and get to know each other for the first time. I spoke to one [FI] of them yesterday while having lunch now that I know her,” Charles O’Leary, FI at National Defence. The Regional Tune Up events are made possible by the Joint Career Development Program (JCDP) fund. This fund was secured by ACFO during the last round of collective agreement and stands as the largest investment in the development of the FI Community. It is jointly managed by ACFO and the Office of the Comptroller General. Learn more at https://www.acfo-acaf.com/professional-development/jcdp/.