Virtual event
Stakeholder Management 101
Exclusively for public servants and policymakers
Thursday, Jan 15, 2026
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Speakers
What to do next
- Catch up on the 10-minute highlights above or dive into the full recording
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- Check out our upcoming event How to Craft a Brilliant Briefing Note
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Resources
Join the Life in Government Community
The Life in Government Community is a collaborative space designed for Apolitical members to connect with peers in the global public service and ask and answer questions on life in government.
Event Description
Are you chasing approvals, managing egos, sharing updates and still getting nowhere? Learning how to work with the people around you is often the most effective way to get the answers you need.
Navigating stakeholders is a core part of public service, yet it remains one of the hardest to master. Competing priorities, unclear roles and internal silos can frequently block progress. For anyone responsible for delivering outcomes, understanding how to manage stakeholders is essential to making decisions, building support and sustaining momentum.
In this panel, three experienced civil servants share their approaches to stakeholder management in high-stakes public sector environments. From managing upwards to keeping people engaged over time, you’ll hear what works, what doesn’t and how you can get quicker answers from challenging stakeholders.
Image Credit: unsplash
Speakers
Cori Zarek
VP, North America, Apolitical
United States
Samantha Tulloch
Coach and Mentor, Project Mind & Behaviour
UK
Jordan Thompson
Senior Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Engagement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Canada
Cori Zarek, Vice President for North America at Apolitical, is expanding the world’s largest network of public servants to give more North Americans access to peer learning communities, events, courses, and tools to get smarter on on key topics including digital and AI, energy and climate, and building governments that are fit for the future. Before joining Apolitical, Cori spent more than two decades working within and alongside government institutions. Cori’s career of public service includes serving as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Digital Service and Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer both at the White House, and as a staff attorney for the U.S. National Archives.
Samantha Tulloch, a digital adviser, speaker and coach, focuses on the human side of change, confidence and decision-making. She has previously worked across local authorities, central government departments and regulated environments, giving her first-hand understanding of the realities and constraints public servants face. Her approach to stakeholder management centres on trust, psychological safety and clear communication as the foundation for ethical influence and persuasion.
Jordan Thompson, is the Senior Director of Intergovernmental and External Engagement with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In this role, he leads relationships with Canadian provinces and territories, as well as key immigration partners. He has extensive experience leading engagement processes, including in support of the development of Canada’s annual immigration levels plan and IRCC’s Council of Newcomers, and holds a Certificate in Public Participation from the International Association of Public Participation (Canada).
