Jérémie Emond is a Director General of the Real Estate Services at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). He is responsible for developing and leading a new real estate disposal program that will accelerate the current process. The purpose of this program is to fast-track the transfer of surplus properties to Canada Lands Company or to sell to the private market providing redevelopment opportunities to assist in the current affordable housing crisis.

After 23 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a military engineer, Jérémie joined the public service in 2016 at National Defence as Director of Portfolio Planning. In 2019, he moved to Correctional Service Canada as Senior Director, Facilities. In 2021, he joined Natural Resources Canada as Director General, Real Property and Environment. In 2024, he moved to PSPC to his current position.

Jérémie holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Université Laval. He holds a Master’s degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the École nationale d’administration publique.

Mr. Clayton Truax is currently the Senior Director, Environment, Health and Safety within PSPC. In this role, he is responsible for national functional direction as well as operational support within the National Capital Area related to environmental compliance and custodial health and safety.

Clayton joined the department in October 2001 and has subsequently occupied a number of progressive positions related to expanding the Department’s leadership role in contaminated sites within the federal government including Manager, National Centre of Expertise for Contaminated Sites until assuming his current role in December 2019. He has been a long-time contributor to the organization of the RPIC Federal Contaminated Sites Workshops including acting as the Chair. Prior to joining PSPC, he spent 14 years in the private sector as an environmental consultant managing contaminated sites and other environmentally related projects in Canada and the United States.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Master’s Degree from the University of Waterloo in Civil Engineering and is a licenced Professional Engineer in Ontario.

As part of the RCMP’s Real Property Management Branch, Lezlie Locke is responsible for the provision of real property policy advice, and for maintaining and updating the Property Management Manual (PMM), which is the RCMP’s substantive repository of policies, guidelines and technical bulletins that govern how the RCMP manages its real property assets and projects. Lezlie has 25 years of experience within the federal real property domain working with the RCMP and the Department of National Defence. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Chris Vandyk is the Director, Real Estate – Acquisitions for Canada Lands Company (CLC), and has been with CLC since June 2018. Prior to joining CLC, he worked in the Real Property Policy Division of the Treasury Board of Canada’s Secretariat (TBS), and has also held several real property positions within the Correctional Service Canada (CSC).

Within Canada Lands Company, Chris, working closely with the CLC’s regional offices, is responsible for the organization’s acquisition of surplus strategic properties from the federal government with the objective of optimizing the financial and community value of these surplus assets. With over 10 years experience in the federal real property field, he has worked on a number of major federal realty projects focusing mainly on the disposal of strategic properties.

He has a Master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

Jean-François Robert is a Director General within Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch. He currently leads multi-skilled teams in the management and delivery of major capital projects, supporting the Long Term Vision and Plan strategy that guides the restoration and modernization of Canada’s Parliamentary Precinct. He holds both a bachelor’s degree (Université Laval) and Master’s degree (Université de Sherbrooke) in civil engineering. He has more than 20 years of project management experience, beginning his career as a professional engineer in the private sector, and later with the City of Gatineau. In 2009, Jean-François joined the Federal Public Service in PSPC’s Real Property Branch, moving to the Parliamentary Precinct Branch in 2013. He has a proven track record of providing sound strategic advice based on his strong project management principles, practices and techniques, as well as his in-depth knowledge and experience.

Prior to becoming RPIC’s Executive Director, Nancy Fahey served as our Director, Business Sustainability on an Executive Interchange.  She also previously served as a volunteer and a RPIC Board. Nancy brings over 34 years of federal government experience in real property and procurement; intergovernmental and industry relations; security management including incident command structure and cabinet affairs. Over the course of her career, Nancy had the pleasure to work at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Jim Anderson is an architect, Partner and Past Chair at DIALOG — a multidisciplinary design practice with over 600 people across Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and San Francisco. Over the past twenty-five years, Jim’s career has arced from an in-thetrenches project architect managing large and complex project teams, to overall Toronto Studio management, to National Operations management, and then to Firm Managing Partner and Chair. Currently Jim’s role as Past Chair is focused on building strategic relationships, the pursuit of key strategic projects, and the building effective teams for delivery of those projects. Throughout his career, Jim has maintained his focus as a people person, with a deep belief that aligning individuals with their passions and facilitating active and continuous learning is the most effective path to success. Under Jim’s leadership, DIALOG was named by Deloitte as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. As a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council (DFC), Jim is part of a global network of industry leaders who are shaping the future of architecture, engineering, construction and environmental industries by promoting integrative collaboration and advancing innovation across all disciplines. He is also an active member of the Ontario Association of Architects, serving on both the Discipline and Registration Committees. Outside the studio, Jim is passionate about community engagement. As a member of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Corporate Advisory Council between 2018 and 2021, he helped to steer the efforts of an organization devoted to the promoting the awareness of mental health issues. In partnership with CAMH, Jim was also instrumental in the development and launch of the Workplace Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders, a first-of-its kind manual for mental wellness in the workplace. Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Carleton University in 1984 and completed Executive Education at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2016. He maintains licenses to practice architecture in 9 Canadian Provinces and 17 American States and holds national security clearances with Procurement Canada’s Contractor Security Program, and Public Safety Special.

Debbie Baxter, CMC, FCPA, ICD.D, has more than 25 years of experience working with businesses to implement change – from changes in real estate utilization, to changes in culture or technology. She is a client advocate who can uniquely combine the ability to recommend the strategies that drive the desired business outcome as well as have the leadership insight to oversee adoption of the change.

Debbie is a Senior Advisor in Transaction Real Estate for Ernst & Young Canada, responsible for working with clients to ideate, design and implement their Real Estate strategies and projects.

She is most passionate about the “Future of Work” – working with clients to adapt their business to the trends evident in our economy and society that will challenge our existing infrastructure and drive the need for a new way of thinking about real property.

Debbie’s efforts have been recognized on a national level. In 2013, Debbie was named to the Top 100 WXN list of the Most Powerful Women in Canada in the Trailblazer Category.

With a background in operations and technology, Debbie is a Certified Management Consultant, Certified Public Accountant and holds a Corporate Directors ICD.D designation.

Kerry is currently the Executive Director, Real Property & Asset Portfolio Management at Parks Canada where she is responsible for portfolio management of Parks Canada’s diverse real property and materiel portfolios.  Kerry has more than 25 years experience in Real Property roles in both the private and public sector.  Kerry began her career as a consultant in the private sector working on land development projects in Indianapolis and Ottawa.  She started her public service career in 2003 with Transport Canada working on the management of large federally funded infrastructure projects and progressed into various management roles over her 12 years with the department.  In 2015, Kerry joined Parks Canada as the Chief Engineer, Highway Engineering Services to lead the development of a new national team to oversee its program of work for highways across national parks until being named to her current position in 2021. 

Kerry is a civil engineering graduate of the University of New Brunswick and a registered professional engineer in Ontario. 

Linda Drainville is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Corporate Services and Finance Branch and Chief Financial Officer at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) since March 2021. Ms. Drainville’s responsibilities span across financial management, procurement, accounting and controls, assets, real property and security management, departmental planning and results reports, governance, integrated planning and risks, investment planning, and project management.

Prior to joining ECCC, Ms. Drainville worked at the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance. She has also served as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director General of Financial Operations and Services with DND/CAF, where she provided strategic advice on public accounts, compliance, inventory management, and financial litigation.

Ms. Drainville has an accomplished career in the fields of finance, audit, and forensic accounting, notably with the United Nations, the Office of the Auditor General, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canada Revenue Agency.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Québec in Montréal, along with a Diploma in Investigative and Forensic Accounting from the University of Toronto. Ms. Drainville is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and is certified in Financial Forensics (CFF).

Thomas Ford is an innovative leader who strives to shaping the future of federal Real Property and takes immense pride in delivering exceptional service to Canadians each day. 

With over two decades of experience as a Public Servant, Thomas has spent the last five years serving as an executive with Public Services and Procurement Canada, Real Property Services, currently holding the position of Director, Interjurisdictional Engagement.  

He is a proud holder of a Master’s degree in Public Administration from l’École nationale d’administration publique. 

His areas of interest encompass Reconciliation, engagement, portfolio planning, and implementation.  

In 2022, Thomas received the Real Property Institute of Canada award for Excellence in Strategic Planning and Policy, showcasing his commitment to achieving outstanding results.  

His passion and expertise have recently led to his appointment to the Real Property Institute of Canada Board of Directors.

Prior to assuming his current duties, Peter was Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy) at National Defence. During this time, he was instrumental in advancing several national defence and government priorities in the context of an increasingly strained and deteriorating international security environment. Peter led the development and launch of Canada’s NORAD modernization program as well as Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, securing additional funding and new capabilities for DND/CAF and laying out a new vision for the Defence Team. He also led the establishment and deepening of key bilateral and multilateral defence relationships, including in Europe, NATO and the Indo-Pacific.

Previously, Peter was Director General Policy Coordination at National Defence, Director General National Cyber Security at Public Safety and Executive Assistant to the Clerk of the Privy Council. He also held the following positions within the Government of Canada: Senior Director Planning and Information Management at the Treasury Board Secretariat, Director Cabinet Liaison at National Defence and First Secretary for Financial and Military Affairs at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York.

Peter holds a Master’s degree from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and a Bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University.

As the Director General for Real Property Planning and Management (RPPM), Peter leads the NRC’s management of its real property assets.   

Prior to joining the NRC Peter managed his Project Management Consulting firm which focused on the construction industry.  Peter joined the NRC as a Project Manager with the Aerospace Research Centre in 2007.  After implementing a project management and quality management system for the wind tunnel testing programs he became the Project Management Office Team Lead for Aerospace.   

In 2014 Peter accepted the Director of Operations position with the Information and Communications Technology Research Centre.  In 2018 Peter got back to his roots in the construction industry in becoming the Director of Engineering and Construction for RPPM.  

Peter holds a bachelors degree in Environmental Science, a Master’s of Business Administration and is a Project Management Professional. 

Since 2022, David has served as Vice-President of Real Property and Assets for Parks Canada. He is responsible for overseeing the management of the Agency’s $30B infrastructure portfolio, including bridges and highways, buildings, tourism facilities, heritage assets, and dams and waterways. His roles has included modernizing the Agency’s real property function and building a new organizational structure. 

Prior to becoming VP, David led the Long-Term Asset Sustainability (LTAS) team, tasked with developing a long-term strategy for managing Parks Canada’s assets that was presented to and endorsed by Cabinet.

David joined Parks Canada in September 2016 as the Executive Director, Atlantic within the Operations Directorate, where he oversaw the management of ten national parks and more than forty national historic sites. Previously, he worked for Fisheries and Oceans Canada for 12 years, in various roles such as Regional Director, Communications; Regional Director, Ecosystem Management; and Associate Regional Director General, Maritimes.

David holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Development from Dalhousie University, a Master’s in Environment, Development and Policy from the University of Sussex in England, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Leadership and Governance from the University of Ottawa. He is an avid surfer, cyclist, paddler and backcountry skier.

Heather Tesselaar is the National Director of Real Property Management Services at Defence Construction Canada (DCC).  DCC is a Crown corporation that provides infrastructure and environmental services and full lifecycle support for Canada’s defence requirements. In her current role, Heather is accountable for the development of national strategy and providing direction for business development related to real property management. This consists of services associated with portfolio management, development planning, energy management and facility maintenance as well as technical services including GIS, computer-assisted design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM).

After 11 years as an engineering officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, Heather joined DCC in 2009. Prior to being appointed to the National Director role she has worked across the country—from Gagetown, New Brunswick, to Wainwright, Alberta, in a variety of roles. Heather holds a Bachelor of Science (Chemical and Materials Engineering) degree from the Royal Military College, a Master of Business Administration (with Distinction) from Heriot-Watt University, as well as the Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional designations.

Linda Drainville is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Corporate Services and Finance Branch and Chief Financial Officer at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) since March 2021. Ms. Drainville’s responsibilities span across financial management, procurement, accounting and controls, assets, real property and security management, departmental planning and results reports, governance, integrated planning and risks, investment planning, and project management.

Prior to joining ECCC, Ms. Drainville worked at the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance. She has also served as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director General of Financial Operations and Services with DND/CAF, where she provided strategic advice on public accounts, compliance, inventory management, and financial litigation.

Ms. Drainville has an accomplished career in the fields of finance, audit, and forensic accounting, notably with the United Nations, the Office of the Auditor General, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canada Revenue Agency.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Québec in Montréal, along with a Diploma in Investigative and Forensic Accounting from the University of Toronto. Ms. Drainville is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and is certified in Financial Forensics (CFF).

Since 2022, David has served as Vice-President of Real Property and Assets for Parks Canada. He is responsible for overseeing the management of the Agency’s $30B infrastructure portfolio, including bridges and highways, buildings, tourism facilities, heritage assets, and dams and waterways. His roles has included modernizing the Agency’s real property function and building a new organizational structure. 

Prior to becoming VP, David led the Long-Term Asset Sustainability (LTAS) team, tasked with developing a long-term strategy for managing Parks Canada’s assets that was presented to and endorsed by Cabinet.

David joined Parks Canada in September 2016 as the Executive Director, Atlantic within the Operations Directorate, where he oversaw the management of ten national parks and more than forty national historic sites. Previously, he worked for Fisheries and Oceans Canada for 12 years, in various roles such as Regional Director, Communications; Regional Director, Ecosystem Management; and Associate Regional Director General, Maritimes.

David holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Development from Dalhousie University, a Master’s in Environment, Development and Policy from the University of Sussex in England, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Leadership and Governance from the University of Ottawa. He is an avid surfer, cyclist, paddler and backcountry skier.