Premier announces senior executive appointments

Premier Danny Williams today announced two appointments to senior positions in the public service. The Premier has appointed Robert Thompson as the Clerk of the Executive Council and the Secretary to Cabinet, and Deborah Fry as the Deputy Minister of Health and Community Services.

"We are very anxious as a government to get down to business, and the appointment of Mr. Thompson to Clerk of the Executive Council will allow us to move forward with our agenda in an expeditious manner," said the Premier. "Mr. Thompson has tremendous experience in government as a senior official, and will bring valuable skills and expertise to this position."

The Clerk of the Executive Council is the most senior public servant, and provides guidance and direction to the whole of the public service and support and advice to the Premier and his Cabinet.

"Ms. Fry has served in the position of Clerk of the Executive Council for almost three years, and has done a remarkable job, especially in her leadership role to the public service," added the premier. "She has been extremely valuable throughout the transition period, and I would like to extend to her my thanks and appreciation for her professionalism and wish her the very best as she takes on her new duties."

A deputy minister provides advice and support to the departmental minister, and is the administrative head of his/her department.

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, (709) 729-3960 or (709) 690-5500

BIOGRAPHIES

Robert Thompson has served for the last three years as deputy minister of the Department of Health and Community Services. Previous to this position, he was deputy minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. In his career with the provincial government, he has also served as Assistant Secretary to Cabinet for Economic Policy and has held management positions with the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat, the Department of Education, the Department of Career Development and Advanced Studies, and the Department of Rural, Agricultural and Northern Development.

Mr. Thompson is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland (Political Science), with graduate studies at York University (Public Administration) and Memorial University (Business Administration). He has served on the boards of Canada Health Infoway Inc., the Canadian Tourism Commission, the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership, the Special Celebrations Corporation, the Credit Union Stabilization Fund and the St. John�s Downtown Development Corporation, and in a volunteer capacity he is the chair of the board of directors of the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir. Mr. Thompson resides with his wife, Wanda, and their daughter, Emily, in St. John�s.

Deborah Fry was appointed Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet on February 12, 2001. She was previously deputy minister of Health and Community Services, deputy minister of Human Resources and Employment, deputy minister of Education and deputy minister of Employment and Labour Relations. She has also served as associate deputy minister of Justice and assistant deputy minister of Labour.

Ms. Fry holds a B.Sc.N. and an LLB. She has practiced law with the Department of Justice, Newfoundland and Labrador, and has worked in neonatal intensive care, public health and nursing education in Saskatchewan and Australia.

Ms. Fry was a member of the Expert Panel on Skills for Canada and has been actively involved in the development of both the Strategic Economic Plan and the Social Strategic Plan for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. She has also served as chair of the Opening Doors Advisory Committee, an employment opportunity program for persons with disabilities and co-chair of the Labour Market Development Agreement for Newfoundland and Labrador. She has also previously served as chair of the Higher Education Council in Newfoundland and Labrador, president of the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation (CAALL). In 2002, Ms. Fry received the YMCA-YWCA St. John�s Women of Distinction Award and the Queen�s Golden Jubilee Medal.

She is a current Booster Club member of the Memorial University Seahawks Basketball Team and former vice-chair of the board of directors of the St. John�s Maple Leafs Foundation. She is a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian Bar Association and serves on a number of other community organizations. She is married with two children.

2003 11 07                                         4:30 p.m.