Are you passionate about public service?
Join us as we meet Arts alumni working in various areas of the government to explore government jobs and career opportunities in public service.
Public Service Canada is the largest single employer in Canada, hiring nearly 300,000 people across the country (and abroad) in over 200 departments and agencies in the federal government. There are also hundreds of provincial, city and local governments that make up the Public Service sector. But what kind of jobs are really available in government?
Meet your Arts alumni!
Moderator: Ifrah Arif (BA ’21, Political Science)
Ifrah Arif recently landed a new role in August of 2021 as a Program Officer at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Ifrah was previously a Junior Officer with the same organization, and also as a Junior Program Officer at Canada Border Services Agency. Ifrah has always aspired to a achieve a position where she can contribute in the development of a country or an organization, in a competitive and challenging environment. Ifrah is an avid volunteer with a large catalogue of diverse opportunities where she has honed her political, business, and economic skills. Ifrah’s volunteer work includes the United Nations, the Liberal Party of Canada, the World University Service of Canada, the International and Canadian Student Network, and many more.
John Harder (BA ’06, Political Science)
John Harder joined the Government of Canada in 2008 and has held progressively senior roles at the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), the Department of Finance (FIN) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). Areas of focus over that time include: scrutinizing spending in support of intelligence and border security programs (TBS); developing financial standards and regulations in response to the financial crisis (FIN); and tapping into Canadian industry to support the design and build of the Royal Canadian Navy’s new fleet of destroyers (ISED). John and his wife, Muneeba (who he met at UW), have two kids – a seven year-old boy and five year-old girl. While his family is the main enjoyment and focus of his life, John somehow always finds time to hit the gym, golf with friends, watch his soccer team ManCity or read a good non-fiction book.
Ian Pomroy (BA '87, Economics)
Ian Pomroy graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1987 after completing his Bachelor of Arts majoring in economics. During his undergrad, Ian held co-op positions with the Federal Government in Ottawa and the private sector in Toronto. After graduating, Ian completed his Master of Arts in economics at McGill University in 1988. From there, Ian worked as an Economic Analyst in several Federal Government departments in Ottawa, starting at the International Trade and Finance Branch in the Department of Finance, then for the Cultural Industries Branch in the Department of Communications and the Strategic Policy Branch in the Department of Canadian Heritage. Ian then took his expertise back to the Department of Finance in 1995 where he held the position of Tax Policy Analyst and Senior Tax Policy Analyst for the Personal Income Tax Division in the Tax Policy Branch. Today, Ian has been enjoying retirement since 2019 and is excited to share stories and career advice with Arts students.
Rebecca Wagner (MA ’09, Political Science)
Rebecca Wagner currently works in government relations and issues management with the Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Students’ Association. Previously, Rebecca served as Chief of Staff to former MPP Daiene Vernile and former MP Raj Saini and helped these political figures connect with the community through strategic communications and stakeholder engagement.
As the current VP of the Kitchener Centre Provincial Liberal Association and the former Chair of Communications of the Kitchener Centre Federal Liberal Association, Rebecca has volunteered extensively in community politics. She has been an active member of the Ontario Liberal Party and the Liberal Party of Canada and ran Daiene Vernile’s 2018 provincial election campaign and Raj Saini’s 2019 federal election campaign.
Rebecca has been an avid volunteer in the Toronto and Waterloo Region communities, largely in a leadership capacity, holding volunteer positions with Women’s College Hospital, Western University, Cota Health, KW Counselling Services, the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre, CIGI, the City of Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo, and Healthy Minds Canada.