Premier announces senior appointments

Premier Brian Tobin today announced the appointment of a number of senior officials. All appointments (except as noted) are effective today.

Heather MacLellan has been appointed as assistant deputy minister - Cultural and Natural Heritage, in the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. She joins the department from Parks Canada where she has held the position of superintendent, Eastern Newfoundland since 1996. Her appointment is effective April 3.

Ms. MacLellan follows Elizabeth Batstone, who has taken a position with the Nova Scotia Science Centre.

Sean Dutton will serve as assistant deputy minister, Intergovernmental Affairs (Acting). This position was formerly held by Tim Murphy who is on a secondment to the Privy Council Office in Ottawa.

Mr. Dutton has held the position of director, Resource and Economic Policy in the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat since 1997.

Rebecca Roome has been temporarily assigned to the position of assistant secretary to cabinet -Social Policy (Acting). Ms. Roome will serve in this position until Vivian Randell returns from leave.

Ms. Roome comes to the position from the Department of Human Resources and Employment where she has been serving as assistant deputy minister (Acting) of Regional Services.

Media contact: Karen Humphreys Blake, Communications, (709) 729-4781.

Ms. MacLellan joins the provincial government from the position of Superintendent, Parks Canada, Eastern Newfoundland. In this position she has played a major role in the management of significant natural and cultural heritage in Eastern Newfoundland. A key part of her responsibilities has been the development and operation of Terra Nova National Park and National Historic sites including Signal Hill, Cape Spear, Castle Hill, Hawthorne Cottage and the Ryan Premises. For the period 1991 to 1996 Ms. MacLellan served with Parks Canada in such capacities as Manager of New Initiatives for Newfoundland and Labrador; Superintendent of National Historic Sites Eastern Newfoundland; and Director of Marketing, Parks Canada, Ontario Region. Ms. MacLellan holds a B Sc. from Memorial University and has pursued post-graduate studies at Acadia University. Awards bestowed on Ms. MacLellan include the 125^th Anniversary Governor General�s Award for Public Service, and the Director General Award for Outstanding Achievement.

SEAN DUTTON

Sean Dutton is currently Director of Resource and Economic Policy with the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat, a position he has held for the past two and a half years. Mr. Dutton has been with the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat since 1994 where he worked first as a policy analyst on defense policy issues, and later as senior analyst on resource and economic policy matters. Mr. Dutton is a graduate of Acadia University, with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Master of Arts, both in political science. He was born and raised in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

REBECCA ROOME

Rebecca Roome is currently Assistant Deputy Minister (Acting) of Regional Services, Department of Human Resources and Employment. She has approximately 20 years of human resource and management experience. Ms. Roome began working with government in 1983 as a staffing officer with the Public Service Commission, and then progressed to Director of Human Resources, Department of Human Resources and Employment before assuming her current appointment of Assistant Deputy Minister. Her academic qualifications include a B.A. (Sociology), B.S.W., and completion (with distinction) of the program in Community Education in the Field of Addictions.  She has also completed courses in social work at the masters level.  Ms. Roome holds memberships and executive positions on numerous committees and organizations.

2000 03 23                                                                 1:50 p.m.