Gibby Armstrong, CPA CA, CIA

Assistant Deputy Minister (Review Services)

Gibby is the Assistant Deputy Minister (Review Services) (ADM(RS)) and is responsible for providing the Deputy Minister and the Chief of the Defence Staff with independent, objective, and timely assurance services. Gibby oversees the operations of evaluation, audit, investigations, and conflict of interest for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Prior to her appointment in May 2023 as ADM(RS), Gibby was the Deputy Chief, Corporate Services, and Chief Financial Officer at the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) Canada. Gibby was accountable for the functions of Human Resources and Recruitment, Finance and Procurement, Real Property, Security (personnel onboarding and aftercare), and Facilities (including emergency management). 

Before joining CSE, Gibby was the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), where she led a comprehensive review of the Agency to present financial sustainability options to the Treasury Board. 

Prior to CBSA, Gibby was an Executive Director in the Economic Program Sector at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS). Program sectors are responsible for challenging federal government departments on requests related to programs, projects and funding that must come before the Treasury Board Cabinet Committee for consideration. 

In the Federal Government, Gibby has also spent time at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Office of the Comptroller General.

Gibby began her career in the private sector in a large professional services firm, where she conducted financial statement audits of publicly traded companies, prepared initial public offering documents in the telecommunications industry, and performed business process reengineering (lean) consulting engagements.

Gibby attained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Queens’ University. She has also achieved a Public Policy Certificate at the Harvard Kennedy School, and graduated from the Certificate Program in Public Sector Leadership and Governance at the University of Ottawa. Gibby is currently enrolled in an MIT Chief Operating Officer Program that will culminate in Spring 2024. 

Gibby enjoys the outdoors – alpine skiing, mountain biking, and snowshoeing and has a big smile when there is lots of snow outside. Gibby lives in Ottawa with her husband Ron, two daughters, Reagan and Darin, and dog, Lola.