1. LARISA WYDRA, MBA, PMP
CAREER OBJECTIVES
To secure opportunities that will leverage my advanced education and extensive experience. My goal
as a life-long learner and as a dedicated civil servant is to deliver value to the Province of Manitoba
and to further develop my leadership skills and abilities.
EDUCATION
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Athabasca University
Completed in May 2014 (3.81/4.00 GPA) – Received Dean’s recognition of outstanding
academic achievement
• Information Technology Strategy • Ethical Decision Making • Developing Leaders
• Strategy & Organizational Analysis • Corporate Finance • Project Governance
• Applied Project on Building a Strategy Management Centre of Excellence for MIT
Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Management Athabasca University
Completed in August 2012 (3.65/4.00 GPA)
• Human Resource Management • Strategic Management • Managerial Accounting
• Operations Management • Quantitative Analysis • Financial Accounting
• Managerial Economics • Marketing Management
Project Management Professional Designation (PMP) Project Management Institute
Completed in December 2010
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology Major/Sociology Minor) University of Manitoba
Completed in February 2000
Grade 12 English and French Immersion Diploma R.D. Parker Collegiate
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
November 23, 2015 - Present Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Director – Corporate Strategy and Information – Manitoba Infrastructure (MI)
• Responsible for the overall planning, leading and directing of strategy and information
management.
• The strategy management component includes formulating, executing, and adapting the
departmental strategy framework. Coordinating the delivery of strategic planning,
organizational alignment, performance reporting, strategy communication and reviews.
• The information management component includes collaborating with departmental staff to
deliver a variety of quality information products aimed at improving fact-based decision
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making. Providing oversight of a high-volume management system to enable effective
access, storage, analysis and governance of departmental information. Demonstrating
accountable, accessible and transparent departmental reporting services in compliance with
legislative requirements.
June 3, 2013 – November 23, 2015 Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Strategic Initiatives Manager – Transformation and Innovation Office – MI
• Deliver strategic services through consistent and transparent business processes aimed at
corporate alignment. This includes strategic planning, change management support, and
guiding executive communication to help foster transformational change.
• Provide senior management consultation and leadership support. This includes setting and
managing EMC expectations and exercising judgment, diplomacy, tact, integrity, while also
having the ability to persuade others and influence their thinking and decisions.
• Manage complex projects and initiatives by providing effective project management support.
This includes planning, organizing, monitoring and providing direction and oversight of
various strategic objectives.
• Liaise, plan, consult and collaborate with various stakeholders. This includes providing
coaching, team building, and facilitation support when coordinating diverse project teams,
task groups and committees.
September 1, 2012 – May 31, 2013 Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Abuse Prevention Consultant – Protection for Persons in Care Office – Manitoba Health
• Conducted investigations on allegations of abuse in personal care homes, hospitals and
other designated health facilities in a fair, timely and confidential manner. This included the
gathering and review of evidence and interviewing of appropriate parties.
• Completed written reports with a finding and made appropriate recommendations and/or
directions to improve resident/patient care.
• Communicated findings with facilities at debriefing meetings and maintained good lines of
communication with stakeholders.
• Educated interested parties on the legislation and disseminated information on The Protection
for Persons in Care Act to health care facilities.
March 2008 – August 31, 2012 Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Program Specialist – Office of the Vulnerable Persons’ Commissioner
• Provided information and consultation to senior officials, all levels of departmental staff,
government and non-government service providers, vulnerable persons, family members,
substitute decision makers, community partners and members of the general public on the
guiding principles and provisions in Part 4 of The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental
Disability Act.
• Performed the duties and exercised the powers of the Commissioner in her absence and
where necessary.
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• Made decisions within the parameters of assigned projects and ensured objectives were met
by:
o Assisting with the assessment of needs and the initiating and planning phases by
researching other jurisdictions and consulting with stakeholders to ensure end
products adhere to provisions in the legislation;
o Executing, monitoring and controlling plans of action so that project work is
completed within scope, on time and on budget;
o Assuming the role of project lead for the review, update and redesign of over 50
documents including applications, forms, templates, guides, in addition to
coordinating the update of a video on the legislation;
o Managing the redesign of The Office of the Vulnerable Persons’ Commissioner’s
website;
o Liaising with applicable entities (Communication Services Manitoba, French
Language, Policy and Planning, etc.) to ensure that policies, standards, and
protocols are adhered to;
o Obtaining consultation from professional and technical experts as needed;
o Testing of all products before launch;
o Formulating all advertising strategies to communicate implementation dates;
o Taking ownership for the development and roll-out of an overall training strategy,
and providing ongoing support and evaluation of new products;
o Playing a key role in the redesign of all accounting forms, revamping the guidelines,
policies and procedures on bonds and sureties, and various other processes and
practices including an archival process for all accounting files, and the microfilming
of all regular files; and
o Finalizing all activities to close out project phases.
• Developed and delivered informational materials and represented the office on various
committees, including The Plain Language Action Plan Committee.
• Hired and managed the performance of step services employees.
• Participated in the review, development and implementation of policies and procedures
relating to the provisions in the legislation.
• Reviewed applications and exercised initiative and sound judgment when conducting
preliminary investigations. Prepared written recommendations regarding the validity of
requests in relation to the statutory requirements, the disposition of applications, the
establishment of hearing panels, and notifications of parties.
• Ensured natural justice and procedural fairness and consulted with the Commissioner on
complex matters.
• Monitored private substitute decision makers for property and audited annual financial
reports to ensure that financial decisions were consistent with powers granted and within the
intent and spirit of the Act.
October 2006 – March 2008 Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Training Coordinator – Integrated Training and Support Team – Service Delivery Support –
Community Service Delivery
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• Managed the design, implementation and evaluation of the divisionally sponsored training
strategy for staff of the CLDS Program, and budgeted accountability and conformance to
legislative and procedural standards.
• Determined core and work-specific skill requirements within an integrated service delivery
context and developed essential orientation and training modules and implemented
modifications to existing materials.
• Contributed to the development of strategies required to meet emerging or intersecting
needs within the division and collaborated with other team members including assisting in
the delivery of Departmental Orientation sessions.
• Organized working groups, chaired meetings and communicated meeting expectations to
ensure discussions remained on topic so that all agenda items could be addressed.
• Researched other training areas, previous training sessions, delivery methods available and
assessed gap areas to build a training plan that best met the needs of staff across the
province.
• Developed organizational, procedural and planning processes within the training unit and
arranged team-building activities to support growth and relationships among team members.
• Involved in the screening, interviewing and selection processes required for filling vacant
positions within the unit.
September 2004 – October 2006 Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Community Service Worker – Community Living Disability Services
• Assessed program eligibility and coordinated support services for Manitobans living with a
mental disability and their families.
• Collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams, advocated for appropriate supports and
facilitated mediation where appropriate and provided direction to service providers in
carrying out service agreements.
• Performed individual needs assessments and ensured individual plans were completed.
Maintained an awareness of accountability as set out in each plan and negotiated funding for
service and prepared financial requests for departmental approval.
• Completed financial care plans and monitored the management of personal allowances in
accordance with the Department’s policy on Management of Personal Funds of Clients in
the Community.
• Ensured protection services including the provision of emergency interventions, short and
long-term crisis planning, conducting investigations for incidents of abuse, and mediating
conflict, sensitive and/or unusual matters.
March 1999 – September 2004 Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Intake Specialist/Case Coordinator – Employment and Income Assistance
• Managed a caseload and conducted intakes, assessed eligibility and verified application
details. Assessed and approved funding for emergency, medical, financial, educational and
funeral needs. Applied for appropriate departmental reimbursements.
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• Reviewed monthly budgets and monitored program compliance, investigated allegations of
departmental fraud. Responded to Ministerial Inquiries. Prepared reports and represented
the department at appeal hearings.
• Presented pre-intake orientation sessions to applicants. Educated participants on
departmental policies and procedures and informed participants of other available resources
and referred appropriate participants to other agencies.
• Sought out prospective employers to facilitate in the employment and job search needs of
individuals participating in the Job Centre. Provided financial support for job search related
activities and allocated funds to recently employed individuals in order to promote self-
sufficiency.
• Created profiles for new staff and provided computer training and technical support to staff.
Maintained the scheduling for staff schedules, information sessions and job center groups.
• Provided input into the needs analysis of a new information system and performed testing
prior to deployment.
December 1998 – March 1999 Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Counselor – Employment and Income Assistance
• Assisted in updating personal action plans after reviewing education and employment history
and referred clients to training and employment programs.
May 1998 – December 1998 Province of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba
Disability Counselor – Employment and Income Assistance
• Assessed status and audited files in the Investigation Unit. Prepared medical information for
the Medical Review Panel. Assessed and authorized special needs.
May 1996 – August 1997 Province of Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba
Verification Officer – Employment and Income Assistance
• Assisted with case management and maintained documentation and statistical records.
Conducted intakes and home visits within the community and in outlying remote northern
communities. Arranged out of town medical trips for clients.
COMPUTER SKILLS
• Microsoft Word • Microsoft Excel • Microsoft PowerPoint • Microsoft Outlook
• PEAK • SIMS • SAMIN • COMS • inFACT • Minisis • Adobe Acrobat Pro
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Completed the Essentials in Supervision Certificate Program.
• Canada School of Public Learning courses on:
• Active Leadership in Values and Ethics
• Building Effective Inter-functional Relationships
• Capitalizing on Change
• Writing for Business and Writing with Intention
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• Budgeting and Controlling Costs
• Trained on the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) and the Freedom of Information
and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), Accountability in Action, the Departmental
Learning Policy, Respectful Workplace Policy, Values and Ethics Guide, and Workplace
Safety and Health.
• Attended the three-day course through Mediation Services on Interpersonal Conflict
Resolution and Dealing with Anger.
• Attended the Organizational Staff Development’s Presentation Skills workshop and
seminars on Culture and Disability, and Aboriginal People – Building Healthy Relationships.
REFERENCES
AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
