Professional Skills Workshops
The workshops bridge the professional aspect of the Master’s program with the academic. They are structured to provide students with practical skills that are highly applicable in public sector jobs. They are taught by experienced public servants and consultants, most of whom are alumni of the SPPA.
It is highly recommended that students take advantage of the workshops. It will demonstrate to potential employers that you have specific skills training and have taken initiative to prepare yourself for the demands of public sector employment.
Upcoming Workshops (2026-27)
Friday Nov 13, 2-430pm, An Introduction to Briefing Notes, presented by Andrew Seto.
Are you interested in knowing how public servants brief up to senior management and decision-makers within the Federal Public Service? Carleton SPPA will be hosting this workshop to give students practical advice to preparing briefing notes in the federal public service ranging from your team lead to the Prime Minister.
The session will include tips, feedback and background on briefing senior managers and policy makers that build on in-class experience with briefing notes, and will feature a hands-on workshop to put knowledge into practice.
Andrew Seto is currently a Senior Advisor in Trade and Market Policy at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO); at DFO he was previously a Senior Advisor in the Deputy Minister’s Office.
Andrew was also at the Privy Council Office where he helped brief Cabinet and the Prime Minister on matters related to the Public Order Emergency Commission, the Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference, and the Emergencies Act. Lastly, Andrew worked at Public Services and Procurement Canada, where he supported the Cabinet in federal PPE procurement efforts during the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic in early 2020.
Andrew has been in the public service since 2017, and is a Carleton Masters of Public Administration Alumni (2017).
