Title: Director of Corporate Affairs and Strategic Human Resources

Company: Government of the Northwest Territories

Location: Yellowknife, NT

Michelle Beard is an experienced professional who has held positions of steadily increasing seniority with the Government of the Northwest Territories over a 12-year period. The last three years included long stretches of time where she was Acting Deputy Minister. She will be moving back to Nova Scotia and would like to put this experience to work in the area of strategic human resources. In five years, Ms. Beard would like to diversify her experience and move into a role as head of human resources.

During her years with the Government of the Northwest Territories, Ms. Beard acquired extensive experience in human resources, strategic management, corporate governance, business strategies, policy, legislation, information systems, program evaluation, health and safety, and financial processes and procedures. Beginning in financial positions, she gravitated to her area of personal interest: human resources. Within human resources, she dealt with the issues of diversity and inclusion, labor relations and collective bargaining, and the difficulties of shifting demographics and workforce planning. Ms. Beard works with the Inuit, the Dene and the Metis, and the 11 offices.

Initially, Ms. Beard became involved in her profession because she saw the social impact that organizations were achieving through human resources and this piqued her personal interest. She decided to pursue a dual career in finance and human resources, and drive her career and experience in those areas.