Janice Charette
Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Janice Charette is currently Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Chairperson of the Canada Employment Insurance Commission. Since joining HRSDC in July 2006, Ms. Charette has led a department of over 25,000 employees who design, develop and deliver policies, programs and services that promote the social and economic well-being of Canadians.

Ms. Charette has held a number of senior leadership positions in the Public Service of Canada and has also worked in the private sector.

In 2004, Ms. Charette was appointed to the position of Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Prior to this she was Associate Deputy Minister of Health.

In 2001, Ms. Charette joined the Privy Council Office as Assistant Secretary to Cabinet for Priorities and Planning. She then became Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Plans and Consultations.

From 1999 to 2000, she held the position of Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for Policy at the Department of Justice.

Ms. Charette worked in the private sector from 1996 to 1999, first as Principal in the management consulting firm of Ernst & Young, and then as Director of Transition for the newly formed Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

From 1994 to 1996, Ms. Charette worked at PCO, first as Coordinator of the Base Closures Task Force, and then as Director of Operations, Program Review Secretariat and Executive Director, Strategic Projects Unit.

She began her career working for the Department of Finance and subsequently with the Office of Privatization and Regulatory Affairs, the Federal-Provincial Relations Office, and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Ms. Charette is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Policy Forum and is on the advisory board of the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University. In 2008, she was national Chair for the United Way’s Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign, raising over $36 million for communities and national health charities across Canada.

Ms. Charette attended Carleton University, where she received a Bachelor of Commerce.