IPAC New Professional Committee grew substantially in 2003/2004. The Committee now has representatives from 15 of the 17 regional groups.
New Professional Events
New Professional events are happening across the country. The main theme for New Professional events for 2003/2004 is values and ethics in the Public Service. Roundtable events are being held in different manners - some regional groups will have half-day or full-day sessions while others will have after work or luncheon sessions. Eight regional groups have held roundtable events so far.
Web Site
The NP Committee selected a vendor to develop the New Professionals web site. The web site will promote the New Professionals program objective of attracting and retaining new professionals in the public service.
The NP Committee would like to have the site available to new professionals by the summer of 2004 to give NPs time to view the site before the August 2004 IPAC National Conference in Vancouver.
Support for New Professionals to Attend the IPAC National Conference in Vancouver
The National Executive Committee approved the use of $10,000 from the New Professionals Fund to assist new professionals attend the annual conference in Vancouver.
New Professional Involvement in the IPAC National Conference
New professionals are highly involved in the planning and organization of the 2004 National Conference. There are new professionals on the Organizing Committee, Local Arrangements Committee, and Program Committee.
2002/2003
IPAC National Board Establishes New Professional Committee
The IPAC National Executive endorsed the New Professionals Program as an official IPAC program.
Thirteen of the 17 Regional Groups appointed a New Professional Representative to sit on a New Professional Committee.
The Committee was chaired by Judy Rogers, Vice-President and President Elect of IPAC and met every 6-8 weeks via conference call.
Roundtable Events
The New Professionals Committee hosted 9 roundtable events across the country. The following regional groups hosted events: Edmonton, Moncton, the National Capital Region, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Regina, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria
The roundtable events ranged in size from 20 to 170 participants and were attended by new and experienced professionals from all levels of government and the broader public sector. Roundtables also drew potential future public servants from both the academic and private sectors. The Roundtables provided an opportunity for New Professionals to network as well as to share information and opinions with other New and Experienced Professionals.
The formats of the roundtable events varied to meet the needs of the various regions. One or a combination of the following three formats was used to host the events: Keynote Speakers and Plenary Sessions
Facilitated Working Roundtables
Information Exchange Sessions (Focus Groups)
A report summarizing the roundtables can be found here.
Establishment of the IPAC New Professional Travel Scholarship Fund
The Committee established a $10,000 travel scholarship fund to aid IPAC New Professionals attends IPAC related events. Seven new professionals were given grants to attend the IPAC National Conference in Toronto.
2001/2002
New Professionals Driving a New Public Service
Conference held in Toronto in October 2001, organized by a group of Ontario new public servants;
Sponsored by a number of organizations, including the Institute of Public Administration ("IPAC") and the Toronto Regional Group of IPAC;
Purpose of the conference was to bring together a cross-section of both new and experienced professional public servants and provide them with the opportunity to discuss issues relevant to the future of the public service.
Results of the Conference
Conference raised numerous issues, including the importance of creating a public service that attracts and supports new professionals;
New Professionals Organizing Committee summarized the findings of the conference in the conference report and an article for IPAC's Public Sector Magazine;
Proceeds from the conference, presented to the IPAC Board of Directors by the New Professionals Organizing Committee, to be held in trust and used for a program to support new professionals working in the Canadian public service.
Establishment of the New Professionals Working Group
IPAC Regional Groups were asked to appoint a New Professionals representative on their regional IPAC committees;
Between February and July 2002, a working group made up of new and experienced professionals from Vancouver and across Canada met to brainstorm ideas and do preliminary planning for an IPAC new professionals program;
Six groups were formed to explore a number of issues relevant to new professionals: Recruitment, Career Development, Education, Mentoring, Website & Communications;
New Professional representatives were encouraged to attend the National Conference in Halifax, August 2002.
A meeting of New Professionals attending the conference was held to present the report and discuss next steps. Approximately 25 New Professionals were in attendance.
Actions Arising from the 2002 National Conference & Working Group Report
A National New Professionals Committee was formed, consisting of representatives from 9 IPAC Regional Groups, and a Director Responsible for New Professionals was named by the IPAC Board of Directors - Judy Rogers, City Manager, City of Vancouver;
Regular meetings of the Committee to be held via conference call (every 6-8 weeks);
*New Professionals Committee was tasked with implementing the recommendations of the New Professionals Working Group.
