Odgers Berndtson and BIPOC Executive Search selected to assist the Government of Canada with improving diversity

In August 2020, the Government of Canada issued a request for proposal to engage a search firm to identify qualified senior leaders made up of Indigenous, Black, and other racialized people, as well as persons living with disabilities, to be considered for high-ranking roles in the federal public service. Odgers Berndtson and BIPOC Executive Search are pleased to have been selected to assist the federal government with this critically important work. 

Over the next several months, we will be working with the federal public service to identify and assess talent within these diverse communities for roles that include: Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister.

Bringing deep experience in conducting searches with equity, diversity and inclusion mandates for government organizations at all levels, Odgers Berndtson is “proud to be a part of such a monumental Canadian initiative,” said Michael Williams, a partner in the firm’s Ottawa office. “We commend the Government of Canada for taking action to have its senior ranks be more reflective of the many people and communities that it serves across the country. Partnering with BIPOC Executive Search, we have confidence that both the recruitment and assessment of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) talent will be thorough and handled with great care.”

“It is great to see the Government of Canada taking action to enrich the mosaic of leadership within the federal public service,” said Jason Murray, President and Managing Partner at BIPOC Executive Search — founded with the mission to provide organizations with more diverse talent pools. “By doing so, the government will strengthen its ability to engage the Canadian population — and the plurality and diversity for which we are known and celebrated — in a more nuanced and meaningful way. The seed being planted will reap so much good. For our part, we are humbled to play a role in this deeply important work.”

Seasoned leaders from the BIPOC community as well as leaders living with disabilities are encouraged to reach out to learn more. Please email michael.williams@odgersberndtson.com or jmurray@bipocsearch.com for further details.