Staying true to yourself: Five minutes with Ima Okonny of Employment and Social Development Canada
In this sister series to our ‘Five minutes with’ interviews, we share insights from the civil and public service leaders who will speak at our Innovation conference. Taking place in London on 25 and 26 March, attendees will hear about how their peers are developing new approaches to policymaking and service delivery.
In this interview, Ima Okonny, assistant deputy minister and chief data officer at Employment and Social Development Canada – who will speak in the session on how artificial intelligence can lead to greater productivity – tells GGF about streamlining data management, why she doesn’t believe in the concept of retirement, and her most treasured possession.
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What drew you to a career in the civil service?
What initially drew me to a career in the civil service was a calling to serve Canadians.
Over the past 25 years, I have worked on numerous crown initiatives that have provided me with the opportunity to concretely use data to enhance outcomes for Canadians across the country.
More broadly, I have had the opportunity to shape and implement data strategies, and build talented, diverse and inclusive teams while promoting a culture that supports human-centered innovation and meaningful results for Canadians. Essentially, what initially drew me to a career in the civil service is what continues to drive me today.
If you could introduce one civil service reform, what would it be?
I strongly believe we need to enable greater horizontality and interoperability of data through a whole-of-government approach. Towards that end, my office is already actively collaborating with other federal departments on joint data strategies. Streamlining data management across the Government of Canada could open the door to a more human-centric and effective approach to delivery.
What more do you want to achieve before you retire?
I don’t believe in the concept of retirement. A vision that pulls you to work towards improving outcomes lasts a lifetime; it is not something you can just switch off.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your working life?
The best advice I have been given is to always stay true to yourself. I really appreciate leaders who are true to themselves, as authenticity is one of the qualities I value the most in people.
What is your most treasured possession?
I have a little ceramic sculpture that my son made for me when he was in kindergarten some decades ago – I keep it on my desk, and I treasure it every single day!
Click here to find out more and register for Innovation 2025
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