October 30th, 2025
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST
Target Audience: Procurement and Materiel Management

DESCRIPTION:

In an era of tightening budgets and escalating demands, procurement and materiel management functions face the challenge of achieving more with fewer resources. This has led many departments to modernize procurement through technology and AI to enhance efficiency and deliver greater value.

Join experienced federal executives for an open and insightful discussion covering:

• Modernization in Action: Discover how various departments are implementing modernization initiatives.
• AI”s True Impact and Limitations: Gain a realistic understanding of the benefits and boundaries of AI in procurement and materiel management.
• Emerging Technologies: Learn about the technologies currently being tested and adopted within government procurement and materiel management.
• Beyond Tech: Challenges, Strategies, and Best Practices: Explore crucial strategies and best practices that extend beyond technological solutions.
• Impact on the Procurement and Materiel Management Workforce: Address anxieties about the fast pace of technology integration into day-to-day work and how to take advantage of the changes.

This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from those who are actively shaping the future of procurement and materiel management across government.

MODERATOR:

Josée Doucet, Senior Director, GCSurplus, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Josée Doucet joined the public service in 2009 following a full and rewarding career in the Canadian Armed Forces. As a public servant within the Department of National Defence, Josée worked in a variety of roles including Senior Policy Analyst for materiel management and Senior Procurement Authority in aerospace procurement.  Josée joined Public Services and Procurement Canada in 2014 as the manager responsible for the divestment of surplus controlled goods and specialized assets. Josée was appointed GCSurplus Senior Director in March 2020 and takes great pride in GCSurplus’ increased leadership role in Materiel Management as well as the program’s positive environmental impact.

PANELISTS:

Jean-Claude Azar, Director General, Administration Directorate, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
Jean-Claude began his career in the federal public service in 2006 and has held positions of increasing responsibilities during the years that followed. Since 2009, he has held various management and executive positions across Procurement and Materiel Management. He led the 31 transformations of the Procurement at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and he is currently the Director of the Contracting Division at CRA. He holds a degree in Commerce and is a graduate of the Canada School of Public Service Leadership Program Direxion.

Daniel Pilon, Director General, National Accommodations, Domestic Procurement and Asset Management (SPD), Global Affairs Canada
Prior to joining GAC in 2018, Daniel held positions as Director of Contracts and Materiel Management at the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development; and Chief of Contracts at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. He started his career in procurement in the late 90’s as a Contracts Administrator working for the United States Department of Defense. Daniel was also co-chair of the PSPC Client Advisory Board from 2015 to 2019.

Gerald O’Farrell, Director, Procurement and Contracting, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Gerald is Director of Procurement at Environment and Climate Change Canada, where his procurement team supports several key environmental priorities for Canadians, including the protection of species at risk, carbon pricing, plastics reduction, weather reporting, and environmental science.  Since joining the public service twenty years ago, Gerald has held various procurement and management positions across the public service.  These experiences have brought him to lead several digital transformation initiatives.  Gerald holds a B.A. from Concordia University, and an MBA from l’École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal.

January 15th, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST
Target Audience: Procurement and Materiel Management

DESCRIPTION:

Federal professional services procurement is entering a pivotal period. Recent events have underscored the need for strengthened transparency, oversight, and stewardship across the system. These developments are shaping expectations for procurement leaders, business owners, and materiel management professionals alike. Join the Canada Revenue Agency and senior experts from Treasury Board Secretariat, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and other federal organizations for a candid and forward-looking roundtable discussion.

Designed for practitioners and leaders across the federal procurement and materiel management community, this session will offer a dynamic exchange of perspectives and practical strategies to help reinforce trust, improve outcomes, and advance continuous improvement in professional services procurement.

Your experience and insights matter. Join the conversation and help shape the next chapter in federal procurement excellence.

MODERATOR:

Jean-Claude Azar, Director General, Administration Directorate, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency 

Jean-Claude Azar was nominated to the position of Director General, Administration Directorate, Finance and Administration Branch on an acting basis effective June 13, 2022, and was appointed permanently to the position on April 3, 2023. 

In this role, Jean-Claude is responsible for leading the Agency’s procurement, materiel management, logistics and administrative services, including the knowledge and research program, asset management, mail services, digital content delivery services, records management, and forms distribution.

Jean-Claude began his career in the federal public service in 2006 as the head of Contracting with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Since 2009, he has held several management and executive positions in procurement and materiel management in various departments. In 2012, he led a major business transformation of the procurement business model at Fisheries and Oceans Canada before joining the Canada Revenue Agency in 2015 as the Director of the Contracting Division. Jean-Claude holds a degree in Commerce, is a graduate of the Canada School of Public Service Leadership Program Direxion, is an alumnus of the Queen’s University Public Executive Program and the University of Ottawa’s Leadership and the Age of Climate Change Program. 

PANELISTS:

Joel Heise, Senior Director, Procurement and Materiel Managment, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Joel Heise is relatively new to the world of federal procurement. Prior to taking on his current post as Senior Director, Procurement and Materiel Management within the Office of the Comptroller General, he served as Director, Government Acquisitions within the Government Operations Sector of the Treasury Board Secretariat. In that role, Joel helped Public Services and Procurement Canada successfully deliver dozens of submissions seeking various contracting authorities from Treasury Board. He helped guide the strategic development and positioning of many large scale and contentious procurement files, providing clients with advice on how to engage Treasury Board and adhere to the relevant Treasury Board policy suite while undertaking procurement activities. With nearly 14 years experience at the Treasury Board Secretariat, Joel is well positioned to continue to provide strategic advice and leadership with respect to the application of Treasury Board policies and processes to real world procurement issues.

Judith Rorai, Director of Professional Services Transformation and Partnerships, Public Services and Procurement Canada

Judith Rorai is Director of Professional Services Transformation and Partnerships at Public Services and Procurement Canada, where she helps lead government-wide efforts to modernize professional services procurement through digital innovation, vendor performance systems, and outcomes-based contracting. With over 20 years of experience in business management and strategic leadership – both in Canada and internationally – Judith has held senior roles in real property, investment management, and executive advisory. Prior to joining the public service, Judith led national sales and marketing strategies for global luxury brands, including Christian Dior and Osborne & Little.

A graduate of the London School of Economics and McGill University, Judith also holds executive certifications in leadership, innovation, change management, and brings a collaborative, client-focused approach to driving transformation and delivering public value.

Richard Kiefl, Director, Business Line Support Services, Fisheries and Oceans Canada