Executive Experience Exchanges

Introducing Executive Experience Exchanges

Today’s challenges demand trusted, connected networks. We’re responding with Executive Experience Exchanges— an events-based program designed to connect you with peers and seasoned leaders from coast-to-coast-to-coast, and internationally.

Executive Experience Chat – Leading in Times of Austerity

APEX’s first series of Executive Experience Chats are small group sessions focused on timely and sensitive topics affecting today’s executive cadre. This fall’s series of Chats on Leading in Times of Austerity features seasoned executive guest speakers Scott Taymun (bilingual sessions) and Patrick Lefort (French sessions). Designed to spark open and meaningful conversations with your peers, these events provide insight into some of the leadership challenges that come along with times of austerity and help you identify the paths you’ll take to guide your organization and its workforce to strong outcomes.   

NEW! Space is limited – join Scott Taymun’s bilingual, in-person sessions in the NCR or Patrick Lefort’s virtual sessions in French. (Questions can be answered in both Official Languages.)

Event Details

Location: Virtual or in-person, all participants will receive a detailed confirmation email upon registration

Cost: This is a free event

Audience: All federal public service executives are welcome to register

Language: Bilingual

Meet the Speakers

Scott Taymun is a former federal executive who served more than 30 years across seven departments.  He has held senior executive positions in communications, strategic policy, corporate planning and governance, human resources, and program management.  He also served as the Chief of Staff to both the Secretary of the Treasury Board and Clerk of the Privy Council.  

His major files include helping design and implement the public sector management reforms that followed the sponsorship scandal in the early 2000s, and lead Director General for implementing workforce reductions resulting from the Harper Government’s Deficit Reduction Action Plan at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) from 2012-2014.  He finished his public service career managing major projects and initiatives with the CBSA, and serving as an executive coach and mentor.   

He retired from the public service in October 2023, and is spending his early retirement years thankful for good health and enjoying sports and the outdoors, while continuing to serve as a mentor for the Action Canada program, a free-lance writer for the Ottawa Citizen and The Hub, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Lanark Community Alliance. 

Supporting communities, claimants and businesses is very rewarding for Patrick Lefort. Embodying the spirit of public service, he is passionate about managing operations in the regions and shows his leadership in managing a team of managers and employees for whom service excellence is a priority. 

Recruited in 2004 through the external component of the Management Trainee Program, he held various management positions at the Programs Branch and the Benefits Delivery Services Branch (BDSB). Over a five-year period, he enhanced his experience in operations management in a law enforcement environment at the Canada Border Services Agency, before coming back to ESDC in 2018. He has held the position of Director General of BDSB since March 2020. 

In the spirit of collegiality, Patrick is eager to share his experience during mentoring activities, which he sees as opportunities to improve his management skills. He also focuses on listening to his colleagues and collaborators to broaden his perspective and improve services to the public. He believes that mental health and work/life balance play a key role in a balanced life. As such, jogs on a regular basis. 

In terms of education, Mr. Lefort holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in science, a bachelor of business administration in human resources management, a certificate in communications and a graduate diploma in management.