Franca Petrocelli: The Digital Luminary of Canada's Public Sector
In the intricate tapestry of Canada's public sector transformation, Franca Petrocelli emerges as a beacon of innovation and foresight. Holding the prestigious title of partner and national public sector leader at BDO Canada LLP/BDO Consulting, her journey spans over 25 years and is studded with pivotal shifts and remarkable achievements.
BDO stands as a premier provider of professional services, offering a comprehensive suite of assurance, accounting, tax, and advisory services. Their expertise extends into the realms of cybersecurity, data, AI, and other cutting-edge technologies, ensuring they remain at the forefront of digital service delivery and shaping the workplace of tomorrow. With a commitment to ESG and over a century of deep-rooted community connections, BDO takes pride in nurturing enduring relationships with both private and public sector clients across Canada and internationally. Their dedication to putting people first and their unparalleled talent have garnered numerous accolades, notably a position among Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2023.
At the heart of Franca's success is her unwavering commitment to harnessing the power of technology for the greater good. From pioneering digital agendas that encompass cloud solutions, data analytics, AI, to ensuring a steadfast focus on cybersecurity, Franca consistently strives to ensure Canadians not only adopt, but maximize the ethical, safe, and secure use of technology.
Over the past year, Franca has cast a strategic spotlight on integrating artificial intelligence into Canada’s public sector, underscoring its potential in driving scalable change. Yet, it's not just her present role at BDO that highlights her prowess. Her prior tenure as the public sector strategic delivery leader for Microsoft Canada stands as a testament to her versatility and vision. It was there that she navigated the tumultuous waters of the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring remote operability for public servants, and facilitating frontline healthcare workers with effective communication and collaboration tools. Moreover, she orchestrated rapid cloud migration strategies, a move critical in the face of natural disasters and climate change. Even before her time at Microsoft, the province of Ontario benefited from Franca's expertise. Whether it was in the realms of education, transportation, health, lottery, gaming, or government services, she left an indelible mark. By forging resilient partnerships, she catalyzed digital service delivery at an unprecedented scale.
Franca's educational foundation, a BA in political science from York University, combined with her post-graduate education in e-commerce solution development from the University of Toronto, undeniably plays a pivotal role in her informed approach. And, while her accolades are abundant, overseeing the adaption of cloud technologies during COVID, championing equitable broadband access to Ontario's educational institutions, and helming Ontario's Integrated Financial Information System (IFIS) most accurately underscore her skill.
What truly distinguishes Franca from her peers is her client-centric approach. While many perceive transformation as a mammoth, often unattainable task, Franca perceives it as a journey. She possesses an innate ability to break it down, making it practical, achievable, and scaled through a series of small yet significant milestones. Her transparency in dealings, coupled with her ability to simplify complexities, instills a sense of trust and shared enthusiasm among her clients. It's not a mere consultant-client relationship, but a cohesive partnership, where collective knowledge drives impactful outcomes.
Franca Petrocelli
Partner/National Public Sector Leader
BDO Canada LLP/BDO Consulting
Website: https://www.bdo.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francap/