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Executive Council
October 25, 2011

Senior Appointments Announced

The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced senior appointments.

“The provincial public service has a wealth of very talented and skilled individuals who serve the people of our province,” said Premier Dunderdale. “I extend very best wishes to these appointees in their new roles and welcome their continued contributions.”

Judith A. Hearn will be Deputy Minister of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, effective December 1 following the November 30 retirement of the current Deputy Minister, Rick Hayward. Ms. Hearn is currently Assistant Deputy Minister (Trade and Export Development) with the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

David Lewis has been appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (Corporate Services), Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. He has taken on that role from Jim Strong, who has retired. Mr. Lewis most recently was Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy and Planning) with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Laurie Skinner is the new Assistant Deputy Minister (Taxation and Fiscal Policy), Department of Finance. The position was previously held by Bob Constantine who has retired. For the past two and a half years, Ms. Skinner was Assistant Deputy Minister (Financial Planning and Benefits Administration) with the department.

Glenn Grandy has been appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (Financial Planning and Benefits Administration), in an acting capacity, Department of Finance. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Grandy served with the department as Director of Budgeting.

Bill Duggan has been seconded from the Department of Municipal Affairs on special assignment to the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment as Assistant Deputy Minister Responsible for Labour Market Recruitment (Major Projects). He moves to that position from the Department of Municipal Affairs where he has been Assistant Deputy Minister (Employment Support).

Rick M. Healey has been appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (Employment Support), in an acting capacity, Department of Municipal Affairs. Mr. Healey was Director, Policy and Strategic Planning, with the department for the past four years.

Premier Dunderdale also announced the appointments of Ross Reid as Deputy Minister, Voluntary and Non-Profit Secretariat, and of Len Simms, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. In keeping with Provincial Government policy, they had resigned from their respective positions to work on the October 11 election campaign.

“I take this opportunity to offer best wishes to Mr. Hayward, Mr. Constantine and Mr. Strong for a wonderful retirement, and appreciation for their combined total of more than 100 years of providing quality public service,” said the Premier.

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Media contacts:

Glenda Power
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
glendapower@gov.nl.ca
Milly Brown
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
708-729-4304, 631-8477
millybrown@gov.nl.ca

Biographical Information

Judith A. Hearn
Judith Hearn has been Assistant Deputy Minister (Trade and Export Development) with the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development since December 2008. Prior to joining the Provincial Government, she spent eight years in the development and growth of export-oriented information technology companies. Her positions with the private sector included Director, Alliances & Channels with Camouflage Software Inc. in St. John’s; Director of Customer Services, Consilient Technologies, St. John’s; Director of Sales and Government Relations, Consilient, Ottawa; and, Business Development Associate, Consilient, St. John’s. Prior to working in the technology sector, Ms. Hearn taught for several years in Newfoundland and Labrador’s secondary education system.

Ms. Hearn has a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University.

David Lewis
David Lewis since May 2010 has been Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy and Planning) with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Prior to that, he was Assistant Deputy Minister of the Fisheries Branch with the department. His earlier positions with the Provincial Government include Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance and Administration), Department of Education; Director of Income Support, Department of Social Services; Director of Planning Services, Department of Fisheries; and, Business Development Analyst, Department of Rural, Agricultural and Northern Development. He also worked with the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador as Executive Assistant to the President, and with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans as biological research technician.

Mr. Lewis has a Masters of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science (honours), and Bachelor of Education from Memorial University.

Laurie Skinner
Laurie Skinner has been Assistant Deputy Minister (Financial Planning and Benefits Administration), Department of Finance, since April 2009. For more than two years prior to that, she was Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Business. From 2003 until she joined the Department of Business, she was Assistant Corporate Controller with Stratos Global Corporation in St. John’s. Before that she worked with Vector Aerospace Corporation in St. John’s, first as Assistant Corporate Controller and then as Corporate Controller. Prior to that, she worked with Ernst & Young LLP, Chartered Accountants as senior accountant, audit and advisory services.

Ms. Skinner has a Bachelor of Commerce degree (honours) from Memorial University. In 1997 she successfully completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Uniform Final Examination at the Atlantic School of Chartered Accountants. She has been an active volunteer with several non-profit organizations.

Glenn L. Grandy
Glenn L. Grandy most recently was Director of Budgeting, Department of Finance. Prior to joining the Provincial Government, he was Director of Finance and Administration with Whitecap International Seafood Exporters in St. John’s. His 14 years of management experience also include Primary Group Controller and earlier as Senior Business Manager with Fishery Products International, St. John’s; Comptroller, Garrison Guitars, Mount Pearl; Assistant Comptroller with Aliant Inc; Comptroller with Murray Industrial Limited, St. John’s; and, Staff Accountant/Auditor, NKHK Chartered Accountants, St. John’s.

Mr. Grandy has a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University, and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Bill Duggan
Bill Duggan has been a Provincial Government employee for more than 30 years, beginning with the Public Service Commission. Since May 2006, he was Assistant Deputy Minister (Employment Support) with the Department of Municipal Affairs. He served earlier as Director of Policy and Planning with the Public Service Secretariat, with primary responsibility for the development and implementation of a human resource strategy for the public service. He has also served as analyst with Cabinet Secretariat, and as manager with Treasury Board Secretariat’s Centre for Learning and Development.

Mr. Duggan has a Bachelor of Social Work from Memorial University and a Masters of Education from the University of Toronto.

Rick M. Healey
Rick M. Healey has more than 16 years of progressive, management level experience and four years of front-line experience with the Provincial Government. Since 2007, he has been Director, Policy and Strategic Planning, Department of Municipal Affairs. He served earlier in that department as Manager, Accountability and Transparency, for two years. His earlier positions include strategic planning consultant, Department of Health and Community Services; autism consultant, Department of Health and Community Services; and human resource planning consultant, Treasury Board Secretariat. He also has 15 years experience teaching psychology at Memorial University as a sessional instructor.

Mr. Healey has a Masters of Science, Bachelor of Science (Honours), and a post-degree diploma in Behaviour Modification with Problem Children, all from Memorial University.

Len Simms
Len Simms, a native of Howley on the province’s west coast, was raised in Corner Brook and was a long-time resident of Grand Falls-Windsor. He has had a distinguished career in public service, including 16 years as MHA for Grand Falls. He also served as Cabinet minister in the portfolios of Culture, Recreation and Youth; Forest Resources and Lands; and as President of Treasury Board and President of Executive Council. He was appointed Chair and Chief Executive Office of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation in February 2005. In accordance with Provincial Government policy, he resigned that position on September 10, 2007 to participate in the provincial election campaign. He was re-appointed on October 18, 2007. He resigned again this year to participate in the campaign for the October 11 provincial election.

Mr. Simms has also served as president of Future First Inc. and Len Simms and Associates Inc., as well as CEO of Keyin College Central. He has an extensive background in serving with community groups, and is a past national president of Kinsmen Clubs of Canada. He is currently an advisor to the board of directors of the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp.

Ross Reid
Ross Reid was appointed Deputy Minister in December 2007, with responsibility for the Voluntary and Non-Profit Secretariat. From November 2003 to January 2007, he served as Deputy Minister to the Premier. Mr. Reid has served with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Ghana and Ukraine, and has advised on and conducted democratic development programs in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Mr. Reid is a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet minister representing Newfoundland and Labrador in the Government of Canada. He has also served as Chief of Staff to the federal Minister of Finance and as an advisor to the Prime Minister.

2011 10 25                             3:00 p.m.

 
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