Liliane Lê, Vice-President of Public Affairs and Marketing, National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, Canada) 

Fluently bilingual, Liliane has 20+ years of experience the cultural industries in Canada. Prior to joining the National Gallery of Canada in 2022, she worked for several cultural federal institutions including CBC/Radio-Canada, Telefilm Canada and Canadian Heritage. Key areas of expertise include public affairs, reputation and brand management, audience development and governance.

Originally from Montreal, Liliane holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from uOttawa (1997) and certificates in European Studies from Sciences Po Grenoble (1994) and in Business Strategy and Financial Performance from INSEAD (2021). She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Ottawa Tourism and served on the board of the uOttawa Alumni Association (2011-2017).

Bridging Worlds Through Inclusion: From Strategic Commitment to Contested Reality

This session will draw from lessons learned by the NGC following the launch of its 2021-2026 Strategic Plan – Transform Together. As the world grappled with COVID-19, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) seized a pivotal moment to rethink its role and respond to profound social change. As a national platform for Indigenous and Canadian visual artists, the Gallery committed to amplifying underrepresented voices across its collections, exhibitions, and programs. Central to its 2021 Strategic Plan was the creation of the Indigenous Ways and Decolonization department.

The plan initially resonated with younger and more diverse audiences. But a subsequent leadership change sparked growing resistance from some stakeholders, including donors, government partners, members, and current and former employees. Mainstream media and cultural critics joined the debate, with some arguing that the Gallery no longer cared about art.

How did a strategy designed to broaden inclusion become so divisive? This case study examines the communication challenges surrounding the launch and implementation of the NGC’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan and explores how those lessons informed the development of its 2026-2031 plan.