“The coop program in economics gave me relevant experience. If it wasn’t for the program, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
A champion for Canada’s mining industry, Photinie Koutsavlis spent 11 years at Natural Resources Canada, the last two as director-general of the Policy and Economics branch. In March, Koutsavlis switched portfolios to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, in the role of director-general of the Refugee Affairs branch.
Koutsavlis is recognized for leading policy development on priorities relating to Canada’s mining sector. She was the force behind the Federal/Provincial-Territorial minerals and metals plan focused on strengthening the industry’s competitiveness and Canada’s standing as a leading mining nation. Koutsavlis says she left Natural Resources with mixed emotions, having accomplished what she’d set out to do. “It’s always good to leave a party when you’re having fun,” she says.
Biggest career challenge
“To believe in yourself, and trust your instincts. Sounds corny but it took me the better part of two decades.”
Proudest moment
“Getting the 2020 Natural Resources Deputy Minister’s Award of Excellence award, the Oscars within the department. What the deputy minister said — it was very emotional — with respect to me as a public servant was very meaningful for me. He mentioned smarts, strength and sensitivity, and how I’ve advanced priorities, domestically and internationally.”
How Concordia helped
“The coop program in economics gave me relevant experience. I was offered a contract, then another and I competed for a position as a public servant and got it. If it wasn’t for the program, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Kudos to that program.”
Career advice
“A former senior manager told me early in my career, ‘Don’t think about the next job but about the one after that, and plan your move. Second, pick your boss. Do your homework, and find out whether there’s been a huge turnover of staff and if the environment is not productive.’”
Industry projections
“Currently we extract raw materials and ship it elsewhere to be processed. The dream is to build a critical minerals-values chain within Canada, from extraction to manufacturing, for inputs going into clean technologies — for example, electric cars, solar power, windmills.”