Nisha Haji
Nisha Haji is the Assistant Deputy Minister, Centre for Learning and Modernization within the Ontario Public Service (OPS), where she leads the learning and talent development strategy for over 64,000 employees, including a focus on leadership, and oversees the effort to continuously improve how human resource programs and services are delivered. She partners on critical change initiatives that seek to make the public service more equitable, responsive and effective from the inside out.
With over 20 years of experience in the public sector, Nisha has led many complex and transformative policy initiatives, including Ontario’s Anti-Racism Strategic Plan, anti-racism legislation, the race-data collection framework and community relations as the Director, Policy and Programs at the provincial Anti-Racism Directorate. As a Manager, at the Ministry of Finance, she led multiple high-profile change initiatives, including harmonizing Ontario’s Sales Tax with the federal government and moving to a new multi million dollar tax administration software.
She has had an impact in policy innovation through her leadership as Director, Policy Lab at WaterTAP Ontario, as well as leading more collaborative community engagement related to Community Hubs, youth homelessness and community safety and policing.
Nisha has been an Associate Professor and co-instructor at York University since 2021 and has a Masters in Adult Education and Community Development from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Visual Art from Western University. She also holds a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.
Nisha is always learning, and her leadership practice is grounded in her experience, both lived and professional. Her work is both arts and community informed.