Meet the Experts - Nancy Clune Lefler

Nancy helps the world lead healthy lives and stay safe. She is a leader on the Calian health team who is focused on driving positive outcomes for customers, health care providers and their clients. Fostering communication and collaboration, she plays a key role in the management of more than 1,800 health care professionals and works with a dedicated team of Calian professionals to provide optimal mental and physical health care results for public and private sector customers, including DND. Nancy and the Calian Health team contribute to the operational readiness of the CAF by providing health support services on all 32 DND sites across Canada. Learn more about Nancy Clune Lefler in this Q&A session.

Q: Can you tell me a bit about your background and your role at Calian?

NCL: I grew up in the Laurentians in Quebec during the 1960s and ‘70s, and have lived in Ontario for much of my adult life. I mention this because I believe our life roles and paths are very much influenced by our backgrounds during our formative years. I also believe my focus and success have been influenced by the social and political impacts during that period.

I have college diplomas in Canadian history/political science (Vanier College) and in tourism management (Lasalle College), which developed my business acumen. I also received an executive MBA from McGill University. With a keen interest in quality and always being an avid learner, I also completed an ISO lead auditor training a few years ago.

I like to do many things and am never one to sit still in my personal life or at work. Teamwork and collaboration have been a fundamental passion of mine. I love to learn and have always found myself rolling up my sleeves to try something new, which has allowed my career to grow and flourish on many fronts—jack of all trades and master of a good many I would like to think.

I came to Calian through the acquisition of HST Group, an Ottawa based management and IT consulting firm where I was responsible for the general office and project management functions (including HR, payroll, accounting functions, proposals and quality assurance). Once with Calian, I formed part of the transition team and then found myself in the HR and Payroll department on the SAP implementation team. 

In April 2010, the opportunity arose to apply for a position on the HSSC OSD management team as the Deputy Director, Health for the Health Service Support contract with the Department of National Defence (DND). This opportunity afforded me the ability to work with a well-rounded team and apply my management of people/processes skills. I have since had many opportunities to learn and grow in this role, as this was my first exposure working directly with the Department of National Defence.

Q: How is your role linked with Canadian national defence? 

NCL: Since 2005, the Calian health team has been recruiting, hiring, managing and working with DND on workable solutions to augment CAF and DND staff to meet DND’s medical and dental clinics’ mission of providing quality health care to CAF members. As the Service Delivery Manager of the Health Care Providers contract with DND, Veterans Affairs Canada and the RCMP (note the HCPR contract was initially a 4-year contract with 8 option years—we are now in year 5 with the first option year exercised) I work directly with members of the client health services teams and our Calian health team securing quality health care providers, ensuring customer and health care provider satisfaction, and quality controls. I get to work with and meet members in clinic to understand the needs and dynamics of the medical and dental clinics.

Q: How does your role support the security of Canada and the rest of the world?  

NCL: I would see my role as being minor from a security of Canada standpoint. However, my role is instrumental in interfacing with the Department of National Defence’s health services teams to communicate and understand their requirements in order to leverage and engage our Calian health team to source and find quality medical and dental health care providers to fill vacant positions in medical, mental health and dental care.  Quality health care is key to ensuring that our CAF members remain physically and mentally healthy and that they are fit to deploy when needed to perform their duties in service to Canada.

Q: How does it make you feel to know that you are contributing to our national defence?

NCL: Proud and with a sense of achievement—especially when we see our teams’ results in sourcing health care providers who thrive in the CAF clinic environment, and especially when they were not aware that opportunities existed in this capacity. I feel a sense of pride/accomplishment when a health care provider puts on the uniform after being introduced to the role by Calian. I and our Calian health team feel fortunate and honored to work in the service of sourcing, qualifying and providing workable solutions in health care for members who have given themselves to serve Canada and all Canadians.

Q: What is your favourite part of your job?

NCL: Problem solving, working with people, understanding challenges and looking for solutions that will allow us to meet the needs and expectations of our clients. Additionally, looking for ways to evolve and enable our recruiting team, and ensure that contract managers and health project management teams have the tools they need to assess, qualify and find the right role for a health care provider and meet the overarching needs of our clients and Calian.  

Q: How does what you do at Calian fit in with your view of your place in the world?

NCL: That is a very good question, and one that I need to spend more time contemplating and exploring. I believe life truly is a journey and I continue to explore and investigate where I fit and what my purpose is. 

At first thought, “in for a penny, in for a pound” comes to mind. I work hard to ensure our clients and team receive quality outcomes and are rewarded for their work. I care profoundly about the people I work with and my family and friends. When I take on a task or am asked to fulfill a role, I am all in and want to learn and apply my knowledge and experience from the ground up—seeking to provide and ensure the happiness of those I interact with.

Q: What activities do you enjoying doing outside of work?   

NCL: This is a long laundry list. I like to do a variety of activities where I can commune with nature to leave the days’ cares and worries behind and find a sense of peace and freedom. Be it kayaking and observing the eagles and osprey on the bay, canoeing, downhill skiing, cycling, yoga, spending time in the outdoors with my family, exploring the wilderness and/or attending sporting events such as rugby games or Formula 1 racing. I like to travel, I also enjoy gardening (flowers and vegetable), walking, playing with our two dogs, cooking, reading, and quilting. With this list, not sure how I have time to work! But I won’t be bored come retirement and looking forward to committing time to volunteering in our community.  😊

Heading to CANSEC 2022 be sure to drop by our booth, #701, to speak with Nancy Clune Lefler in person. See you there!