Laura Wesley
I work with leaders, teams and communities who want to make the world a better place.
Systems Strategist
I bring over 20 years of experience as an intrapreneur, executive and capacity builder in the fields of human centred design (UX), participatory engagement, and communications research & marketing. I also hold degrees in psychology, business analysis and human systems intervention. I have led teams of 5 to 150 people to collaboratively make change within and across organizations and sectors.
I partner with change makers and communities of people coming together to act on the opportunities they see around them. Inspired by living systems, I help create space for conversation, reflection and sense making to enable clients to continuously and consciously move towards their desired outcomes.
Laura Wesley
Work Experience
April 2016 - April 2022
April 2010 - April 2016
January 2002 - April 2010
August 1995 - December 2001
I held a number of Executive positions leading change initiatives and teams working on national priorities such as communicating the federal governments' response to the pandemic and climate change.
During this time I also completed a master's degree in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University. I learned to design experiences, conversations and processes that enable connections between people so they can work better together.
As a senior analyst, I expanded the use of design from websites and services to how people organize and make decisions. I moved into roles that offered, and required, a central perspective, first at Treasury Board Secretariat then Privy Council Office.
I helped catalyze a movement that made space for design practices to take root across the bureaucracy. I went on to do the same in other domains, expanding the use of open source software, collaborative leadership styles, public engagement and innovative governance models.
When I began working in government I created websites, Communities of Practice and digital services at Global Affairs, Industry Canada, and Heritage Canada. I took a year off, went to Asia, writing freelance to fund my travels.
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I completed a masters' certificate in Business Analysis from Sprott School of Business at Carleton University.
I worked in finance, private industry and non-profit sectors prior to joining the federal government. I worked in Canada, Africa and Europe.
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I completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology at Ottawa University.