This award recognizes an entry level human resources (HR) professional who is new to the profession, (i.e., typically less than five (5) years of experience in the HR field at the non-EX level) and has provided strong contributions to the HR function in their organization.
Recipient
Lisa Ung
HR Generalist Advisor
Canadian Space Agency
In September 2022, Lisa Ung joined the HR Client Service team at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), where she has since been involved in HR planning, classification and staffing. Although she is new to the profession, her leadership and engagement quickly made a lasting impression on her clients, colleagues and management team.
By developing tools and improving existing procedures, Lisa has demonstrated her commitment to advancing staffing through automation and technology. She enhances her clients’ autonomy in their staffing activities and takes on certain administrative tasks from her team members. Among her many contributions, she organized employee information sessions on appointment processes, optimized the “Jobboom” platform for hard-to-fill positions and developed retrospective analysis sessions of advertised appointment processes. The innovative staffing practices Lisa has introduced have helped to promote the organization and its vacant positions, conduct inclusive appointment processes, shorten process duration and close certain employment equity gaps.
Lisa is actively involved in the CSA’s corporate events and outreach activities, in addition to being a member of various Government of Canada networks. She also volunteers her time to support continuous improvement projects for work procedures, tools and processes. Not only does Lisa have all the skills and abilities necessary to contribute to the advancement of the HR profession, but she also embodies the future of HR.
“This new talent within the HR Community is a role model for many on the team. Her influence and commitment to excellence already speak for themselves after such a short time in our community.”
Finalists
Sabrina Beauchesne
HR Advisor
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
A recent graduate, Sabrina joined the public service in 2022 and swiftly made her mark. She implemented the Sponsorship and Mentorship programs to address employment equity gaps in the EX cadre, driven by the Clerk’s Call to Action and by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. As the sole HR advisor, Sabrina led this initiative supporting 74 protégés from employment equity and equity-seeking groups at various EX levels who were identified as being ready for advancement. Additionally, Sabrina played a crucial role in the Mentorship Program, providing guidance and support to 129 mentees at the EX‑equivalent, EX minus 1 and EX minus 2 levels, empowering them to develop their skills and achieve their career goals. These initiatives are invaluable in HR, where staying ahead of trends, addressing employee needs, and driving organizational change are critical.
Sabrina’s ability to work independently and drive tasks forward without constant supervision is crucial for program development and implementation in HR. Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and diversity in the public service is evident in her work. Sabrina’s persuasive communication skills, consensus-building abilities, proactive approach, innovative thinking and willingness to challenge existing practices demonstrate her passion for making a difference. She is an invaluable asset to the public service.
“Sabrina’s work in the Sponsorship and Mentorship programs has had a profound impact on the organization, both in terms of providing tangible opportunities for career advancement and development and in fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect and innovation.”
Carmen Maria Ortiz
Labour Relations Advisor
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
In January 2022, Carmen hit the ground running as a labour relations advisor (PE-01) at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). She invested herself fully in mastering the legislative framework, case law, best practices and procedures. Carmen made a lasting impression with her ability to learn quickly, her determination to get things right and her commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
In 2023, Carmen played a crucial role in planning and managing strike activities in the regions and contributed significantly to the review of the IRB grievance levels. She organized daily preparatory meetings and implemented a rapid and effective communication process. These initiatives helped the organization respond to strike activities in a proactive and structured manner.
In addition to her departmental responsibilities, Carmen skilfully manages her own client portfolio. She listens to and demonstrates empathy toward her clients in order to understand their operational context and needs. She takes the time to assess all possible solutions and regularly consults her colleagues and her supervisor to ensure that all avenues are considered. Carmen exceeds her clients’ expectations by offering personalized and turnkey solutions, carrying out rigorous follow-ups and ensuring that her recommendations are implemented. She undoubtedly has a wonderful future ahead of her as a labor relations advisor.
“She demonstrates a very high level of integrity in her work, striving to ensure that all applicable directives, laws and policies are respected and that all possible solutions are considered, for each case.”
Notable Nominees
Christie Chababi
Planning and project support officer
Canada Revenue Agency
After just two years, Christie is already the epitome of emerging talent in the field of human resources. With unwavering professionalism, she takes complete ownership of the tasks assigned to her. Whether coordinating virtual learning activities, assigning HR help desk tickets or supporting the planning and implementation of national orientation events, Christie dives into the details with an appetite for providing excellent service to the teams she supports and always leaves established processes and procedures more concise and effective than she found them. Beyond her immediate responsibilities, Christie actively contributes to enhancing team communication and performance by scheduling regular meetings and providing comprehensive statistics. Her dedication, professionalism and innovative ideas, such as providing new employees with essential resources after their orientation sessions, showcase her commitment to advancing HR practices.
Antonia Macris
Manager of Corporate Learning
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Antonia is Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC)’s manager of corporate learning in the HR Branch in Montreal, leading ECCC’s learning policies and mandatory training program. She managed projects with diverse clients and partners as an instructional designer, developed courses on climate literacy and green procurement, and led a user experience testing pilot for the new ECCC Learning Space. Antonia and her colleagues won the ECCC 2024 Departmental Award for developing the climate literacy course. She volunteers as co-chair of ECCC’s National Youth Network, was an ambassador for learning and development during the 2023 Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign and was a public service envoy at the 15th Conference of the Parties. Additionally, she is a member of the HR Montreal social committee. Antonia has also collaborated with the United Nations Environment Programme, environmental non-profits and higher‑education institutions.
Diana Rif
Program Officer
Shared Services Canada
Diana joined Shared Services Canada in 2020 and has been an invaluable support to her colleagues ever since. When the Workplace Culture, Health and Well-Being Division was established, Diana eagerly took on an administrative role while continuing to support teams responsible for priorities in psychological health, safety and character leadership. She plays a crucial role in enhancing the well-being of employees across the department. Diana’s performance is consistently reliable, which is fundamental to the team’s success. Beyond her regular tasks, she ensures that all materials are accessible and comply with official languages requirements. She also builds effective relationships with counterparts across the directorate, supports the development of the organizational structure and oversees staffing actions. With her positive attitude, her respect for others and her openness, Diana fosters a healthy workplace and supports both work objectives and team morale.
Mara Winn
HR Planning Officer
Natural Resources Canada
Mara joined the Business Transformation and Innovation team at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) in 2022 as a project officer. Her potential was quickly recognized, leading to her being identified as the ideal candidate for a position on the HR Planning team. She developed the organizational health check presentations and has continually sought to improve the final product. Her efforts and analytical skills are crucial to advancing the organization’s HR planning services. Mara contributes not only through her presentations, but also through her active participation in the development of a people management strategy. She supports a stronger integration of HR Planning into the integrated business planning process at NRCan. Mara exhibits great professionalism and proactivity, always maintaining a positive attitude. She thrives on learning new things and on identifying process improvements.
