Unlocking Talent: Executive Strategies for Inclusive Workplaces

In today’s public service environment, executives are working in complex and fast-paced environments, focused more than ever on delivering priorities, at the same time as providing leadership for diverse teams. One area with untapped potential and proven ROI is workplace accommodation for employees with disabilities. Unfortunately, current accommodation processes are often inefficient, reactive, and limit the potential for these employees to fully participate in their work and contribute to the productivity of their teams.

This executive learning event shares key insights from a one-year innovation initiative led by Deputy Minister Champion for Federal Employees with Disabilities, Tina Namiesniowski, aimed to transform how we approach workplace accommodation. You’ll hear candid stories from senior leaders with disabilities, gain practical tools to navigate difficult scenarios and explore the strategic case for investing in accessibility. Whether you’re facing operational pressures, striving to build a more inclusive culture, or navigating the accommodation process yourself, this session will help you unlock talent, reduce friction, and lead with confidence in a changing public service.

Event Details

Date & Time: November 26 2025, 13:00 to 14:00 EDT

Audience: All Public Service executives across Canada and internationally are invited to attend APEX’s learning events

Cost: Free

Language: This event will be bilingual where the speaker will alternate between English and French without repeating. Simultaneous interpretation will be available via Wordly, an AI-based interpreting service. ASL and QSL interpretation will also be available during the event.

Platform: Participants will attend our virtual event via Teams webinar . A meeting link will be sent once you are registered.

Resources

Better Accommodation Project Toolkit on:

GCpedia & Canada.ca

Better Accommodation Project

PowerPoint Presentation

DOWNLOAD

Mae Johnson
Senior Executive Advisor, Office of the Deputy Minister Champion for Federal Employees with Disabilities, ESDC

Since October 2023, Mae Johnson has worked as the Senior Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister Champion for Federal Employees with Disabilities at Employment and Social Development Canada. Since joining the public service in 1996, Mae has provided executive leadership in policy, program and change management in Canada and internationally in diverse areas including defence and security policy, public health/health policy and accessibility.

Mae is a Member-at-Large of the Governing Council of the Canadian Accessibility Network since 2019. As an employee with lived experience, she fostered inclusion and spearheaded advocacy as Chair of the Health Canada Persons with Disabilities Network from 2018-2021. Mae is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies, conferred by the International Association for Accessibility Professionals. She is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association and a member of the technical committee developing a standard for acoustics in Canada.

Mae has a Master’s of Arts in International Relations from Carleton University, a European Studies Diploma from the University of Antwerp, Belgium and a Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of Manitoba.

André Baril
Director General, Sectoral and Employer Engagement Directorate, ESDC and APEX Board Member

André Baril is the Director General of Sectoral and Employer Engagement Directorate at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

André has over 26 years of experience in policy and operations in the Government of Canada. Recently, he was the Director General of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Projects in the Office of the Deputy Minister Champion for Federal Employees with Disabilities where he led the Better Accommodation Project.

André is visually impaired and is a federal employee with lived experience as a person with disability. From 2017 to 2024, he was Chair and Champion of IRCC’s and Transport Canada’s networks for persons with disabilities. He is passionate about inclusion leadership.

He has a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Toronto and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Université de Montréal (with a one-year exchange at the University of British Columbia). He is a proud father of three sons.

Unlocking Talent: Executive Strategies for Inclusive Workplaces