How public servants can tackle misinformation

Speakers

• Elsa Pilichowski

  Director for Public Governance, and Director for Public Affairs and Communications (a.i.), OECD

  France

• Kimberly Girling

  Manager, Science Policy Team, Office of the Chief Public Health Officer at Public Health Agency of Canada

  Canada

• Elsa Pilichowski, Director of Public Affairs and Communications (ad interim), is leading the transformation of the OECD’s communications function. As ongoing Director for Public Governance at the OECD, she spearheads the Organisation’s efforts to support governments in building citizen trust and the OECD Reinforcing Democracy Initiative. She also leads the Directorate’s policy work on key governance issues such as budgeting, digital and open government, public procurement and infrastructure governance, better regulation, public sector integrity, public employment and furthering access to justice and achievement of the SDGs through the empowerment of youth, women and vulnerable groups.

• Kimberly Girling, manager of the Science Policy team for Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, she provides evidence and policy advice and support to the CPHO, and provides strategic policy direction relating to CPHO mid- to long-term priorities. Kimberly completed a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. During her work as a scientist, she developed a passion for bridging the gap between research and practice, and participated in a number of initiatives relating to global and public health, drug policy and harm reduction. In 2016, Kimberly was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship, a program linking scientists with government policy. Prior to joining PHAC, she has worked with Defence Research and Development Canada, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on a wide range of topics including ethics of emerging disruptive technologies and fundamental research funding. Between 2018 and 2020, Kimberly also served as Research and Policy Director as well as Interim Executive Director of Evidence for Democracy, Canada’s leading non-profit organization promoting the transparent use of evidence in government decision-making