About Andy Best

Andy Best is the Research Director for Info-Tech’s Canadian Public Sector practice, where he supports the delivery of research and advisory services across key IT domains and public sector issues and helps IT leaders drive measurable results in their organizations.

Prior to joining Info-Tech, Andy had a diverse career in public sector innovation and digital modernization. As an independent public data advisor, he advised clients at all orders of government on data governance, strategy, and innovation programming, helping create data and IT strategies for multiple organizations.

Andy has held several public appointments in Ontario, first as a member of the Ontario Health Data Council, advising on the modernization of PHIPA and the future state of the provincial health data ecosystem. Also, as Special Advisor to the Ontario Data Authority, he wrote the business case for this exploratory provincial data institution, supported public consultations, and designed use cases and new data stewardship models before delivering a personal recommendations report to the responsible ministers on design, strategy, and future governance for the Data Authority.

Previously, Andy was the founding CEO of the Civic Digital Network, a research, development, and prototyping shop for digital public infrastructure. Under Andy’s leadership, the CDN completed a full cycle from deep research and development to public sector implementation in just four years. As manager of innovation and open government at the City of Guelph, he implemented Canada’s first municipal open government action plan, designed the award-winning Civic Accelerator innovation procurement model, and created the Improvement Network, a coordinated suite of innovation programs and tools to help drive modernization and results.