Désirée Sauve: From Summer Student to Chief of Staff at Transport Canada
Chief of Staff, Deputy Minister of Transport
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science (’97)
From her 29th floor office on Sparks Street, Désirée Sauve looks out over Parliament, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ottawa River, and the Gatineau Hills.
That expansive view is reflected in her duties, as well. As Chief of Staff to the Deputy Minister of Transport, Désirée has a bird’s eye view of the Ministry as a whole.
“My favourite part of the job is having that kind of ten-thousand-foot view of everything happening in the department,” says Désirée, who oversees the office and advises the Deputy Minister. “Every day is different; you never know what’s going to happen.”
As with many leaders in the public service, Désirée moved up the ranks, changing ministries and positions along the way. She started as a summer student in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, kept that job as she finished her degrees (she also has a B.A. in French Literature), and then moved on to Transport Canada. She served as director of real property, director of policy and regulatory affairs, Director General of the Oceans Protections Plan, and now Chief of Staff.
“I am a generalist at heart and that has served me very well in the federal government,” says Désirée. “I’m not someone who can do the same thing over and over and that’s what I like about the public service: you can work on a variety of different projects and files throughout your career. I’ve done everything from auditing to program delivery to even buying a ferry.”
These days, Désirée is sharing her enthusiasm with students she’s mentoring from the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs. In fact, she expanded the mentorship program to include colleagues within Transport Canada.
“We offer tips and tricks and tell them what they should be focusing on,” she says. “Programs like FSWEP are really good opportunities for students because when you graduate, there is an opportunity to get bridged into a permanent job in the federal government.”
She also encourages them to make the most of their degree: she has experienced the benefits first-hand.
“One thing you learn in university is strategic thinking, the ability to organize information and apply it to the big picture. I couldn’t do my job without it.”