The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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Octavian Cosma

About Me:

I have over 25 years of IT experience in both the private sector and federal goverOctavian Cosmanment. I began as a CS-01 and progressed to IT-04 (Senior Advisor) over the years. My experience spans small Crown Corporations to large departments, and I am currently at Shared Services Canada. I have worked as both an individual contributor and a leader of IT teams, gaining insight into the challenges at different career levels and sizes of federal organizations. Over time, I have mentored many professionals on career growth, strategic career planning, and navigating employer relationships. One of my most fulfilling experiences is hearing from people who achieved their career and personal goals after our discussions.

My professional and personal life journey has taken me across Canada, including Montreal, Ottawa/Gatineau, Nova Scotia, and Vancouver. Through work projects, travel, and maintaining deep professional and personal relationships, I have developed a strong understanding of Canada’s diverse perspectives and societal nuances.

Union Experience:

  • PSAC (2011-2018) and PIPSC (2018-present) member. In addition to my roles at PIPSC, I have served on a PSAC local executive in the NCR while working in an IT-equivalent classification, thereby gaining insight into both unions’ strengths.
  • Vancouver Executive and IT Vancouver Executive member.
  • ITSPC Executive member.
  • Active delegate to IT, Regional, and National AGMs.
  • Chaired executive elections in Vancouver.

Objectives:

Advancing Members’ Professional Interests:

I support members in their career development, from their entry into the field and all the way to retirement. This includes career guidance, training, HR, official languages, and union-related advice. I work on also providing additional value for members, such as through lunch-and-learn sessions on taxation and retirement, to help members perceive the union as a beneficial bonus, rather than just another condition of employment.

Representing Members’ Views:

I advocate for increased union awareness and its value to society using clear, fact-based arguments. While unions sometimes receive negative attention, their contributions are instrumental in improving workers’ lives, including those outside unionized environments.

Protecting Our Profession’s Standards:

I work to ensure IT professionals' interests are represented in employer and union discussions. I promote the strategic development of Canada’s IT landscape as a national priority, recognizing IT’s critical role in the country’s future.

The best approach to Canada’s IT success is a balanced partnership between unionized and non-unionized sectors. While public services, including IT, must sometimes operate at a financial deficit to maintain societal well-being, the private sector’s agility fosters innovation. History has shown that the most effective national models result from collaboration between public/private and unionized/non-unionized organizations, while extreme shifts in either direction have led to failure, underscoring the need for cooperative strategies for long-term success.