For 14 years, I was owner and principal consultant at Lotic Consulting Ltd.. In July 2019, the company evolved in name and focus. We are now PolicySpark.ai and we are excited to be shifting our attention to breathing new life into collaborative, evidence-informed intervention design and assessment.Leveraging data science and artificial intelligence technologies similar to those that power leading business and scientific applications, we are an experienced group of Canadian experts now forging an innovative way to design, manage, measure and evaluate interventions, and to tackle complex policy problems. We believe that better intervention causal models are the key to evidence-based learning and improved outcomes. We help our clients create these models from multiple evidence streams, including scientific literature, deliberative stakeholder narrative, expert knowledge and open/big data. By integrating these data to tame complexity, we enable our clients to construct powerful visualizations of how their systems work. Our methods and products further support adaptive, long-term learning by providing the means to test intervention models using the right information.It is our view that complex intervention realities, rapid change, and the need to be more accountable, efficient and effective with limited resources, all point to a pressing need to use the best and most innovative tools to solve both new and persistent problems. With the approach we now bring to the community, we feel that organizations no longer have to make a choice between rigor and clarity. Our purpose and mission is to help organizations leverage cutting edge tools to identify the detailed intervention causal structures that drive behavior and change, ultimately supporting more credible strategic design, more informed decision-making and better outcomes.

Concept Mapping and Graph Analysis for Data-Driven Decision-Making in Pacific Salmon Conservation• Led a comprehensive concept mapping and graph analysis project at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to improve data-driven decision-making for Pacific salmon conservation.• Facilitated multi-disciplinary workshops, merging perspectives of scientists, policy experts, and local knowledge holders to identify key factors influencing decision-making.• Developed a robust graph theoretical framework to visualize and systemize diverse internal perspectives, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and systems thinking.• Investigated challenges in the Anthropocene using complex systems thinking, emphasizing knowledge system integration into evidence-based policy frameworks.• Pioneered the use of advanced graph theoretical tools, such as Fuzzy Cognitive Maps, to model socio-ecological interactions and enable holistic conservation approaches.• Conducted an extensive literature review to inform ecosystem-based fishery management policies and identified critical leverage points for evidence-based management strategies.• Recommended organizational changes to foster transparency, responsiveness, and credibility at the science-policy interface, and contributed to strategies integrating scientific evidence into fisheries management.• Recognized for developing a scalable, replicable model for addressing complex social-ecological systems issues within and beyond DFO.

Design and implementation of system to manage CBSA international written collaborative arrangements and agreements (WCAAs). Led the design of an approach to create an inventory of CBSA international arrangements and agreementsConsulted with internal partners to create a plan to organize and implement a system to manage WCAAsEnsured that the design and implementation of the system was compliant with internal audit and review recommendations and with associated management action plansLiaised with multiple internal groups to verify existing data setsLed the examination and restructuring of the internal database used to house WCAA dataDeveloped a strategic plan to use WCAA data to support senior management from a business intelligence and decision-support perspectiveProvided advice on the development of planning, implementation, and performance metrics to monitor progress

Design and implementation of a results-based management system.CSRT-SM (Canadian Armed Forces Strategic Response Team - Sexual Misconduct).

Data Collection and Analysis for the Evaluation of the Habitat Conservation Partnerships Program

Data Collection and Analysis for the Evaluation of the Sustainability Reporting and Indicators Program

March 2015 Independent Performance Evaluation

Transport Canada’s Next Generation of Clean Transportation Initiatives is designed to help Canada fulfill its responsibilities and obligations in working towards cleaner air from transportation, including the reduction of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The program also supports broader Government of Canada commitments to reducing greenhouse gases and mitigating climate change. The program covers all transportation sectors: aviation, marine, rail, and vehicles, as well as supporting programs such as ecoTechnology for vehicles, the Gateway Carbon Footprint Initiative and the Shore Power Technology for Ports Program. The initiatives include the development of regulatory frameworks, participation in the development of international codes, standards and guidelines, voluntary agreements with industry, research and development, socio-economic analysis, and the deployment of targeted new technologies.Provided of subject matter expertise, advice and guidance on various documents relatedto the evaluation, including data collection instruments, the logic model, the performance measurement strategy, the overall approach, and analysis of relevance and performance;Provided advice and guidance on the selection of interviewees to obtain information that would lead to a better understanding of the initiatives and their results;Reviewed project files and program documents, and provided advice, guidance and interpretation of the information and data contained in them;Provided critical input into the development, measurement and analysis of performance indicators;Conducted data collection activities including interviews of program staff and stakeholders;Conducted data analysis and reporting;Liaised with other Government of Canada departments to obtain their input into the evaluation;Developed findings statements, recommendations and drafted key components of the evaluation report.

Design and Implementation of a Full Performance Measurement and Results-basedManagement System for the Data Delivery Services Division, CRA.

Evaluation of Transport Canada's Environmental Stewardship ProgramProvided subject matter expertise advice and guidance on various EAS documents. This included case study methodology, data collection instruments and case study interview questions;Met with EAS evaluation team and Environmental Assessment program staff to discuss the selection of projects for the case studies;Assisted EAS evaluation team to finalize the selection of 10-12 case studies and related interviewees;Assisted EAS evaluation team to review project files and provided advice, guidance and interpretation of information and data obtained during the case studies (including project data, reports contained in project files, regulations and other documentation concerning the case studies or environmental assessment);Participated in data collection activities including interviews and site visits;Independently conducted 2 case study site visits;Analyzed and interpreted data for 4 case studies and reported results to the EAS evaluation team;Assisted the evaluation team in preparing the final evaluation report.Evaluation of the Marine Security Program (MSP)Provided support and assistance to the Transport Canada team conducting an evaluation of Transport Canada’s Marine SecurityProgram (MSP);Assisted the evaluation team in creating interview guides for various lines of enquiry, including an examination of the Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group (IMSWG) and an examination of the Marine Industry in Canada;Conducted interviews with senior members of the Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group (IMSWG), including senior mangers from Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), Privy Council Office (PCO), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Justice Canada (DoJ), RoyalCanadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Department of National Defence (DND) and Public Safety Canada (PS).

Evaluation of Harbourfront Water's Edge Improvements - York and John Quays.Developed complete evaluation framework, including project profile, evaluation design, evaluation matrix and associated evaluation questions;Developed detailed time line and resource estimates for conducting the evaluation;Created a questionnaire and interview guide to support data collection, carried out interviews with program personnel;Collected, compiled and analyzed multiple lines of evidence to answer evaluation questions;Wrote final evaluation report.

Performance measurement and evaluation frameworks for the Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care.Developed program logic model using key background documents supplied by the client (e.g. TB submission, program business model);Developed measurement strategies, including indicators and other key measurement parameters;Developed evaluation matrices, including evaluation questions and indicators;Lead syntheses of the full performance measurement strategies including background elements, measurement strategies and evaluation approaches;Provided advice and support to the Director on procedures and best practices related to performance measurement and evaluation in general and on the development of specific program strategies.

Synthesis report: Facilitating Biodiversity Adaptation to Climate Change: Science, Management and Canadian Gaps. Wrote a synthesis report summarizing present and projected impacts of climate change on biodiversity.Main elements of the report include:Basic climate scienceSpecies and ecosystem responses to climate changeEcological and monitoring tools required to understand biotic responseOutline of management approaches including risk management, conservation responses (prioritization of targets, protected areas, use of corridors, landscape conservation), policy instruments, institutional coordination, etc.Analysis of the Canadian context and identification of critical gaps.Recommendations for biodiversity adaptation to climate change.