Two Senior Appointments Announced

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

Patrick McDonald has been appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (Marketing and Development) on an acting basis, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. His appointment will be effective June 18.

Walter Parsons has been appointed Executive Director (Iron Ore Industry), Department of Natural Resources. His appointment will be effective July 9.

“I congratulate Mr. McDonald and Mr. Parsons and wish them well in their challenging and exciting new leadership roles,” said the Premier.

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Biographical Information

Patrick J. McDonald
Patrick J. McDonald began his career with the Provincial Government in 1981 as a marketing specialist, after several years as manager of a Sobeys store in Lewisporte. In 1992 he jointed the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture as a Market Development Officer. He has held progressively responsible positions with government. In 2006 he was appointed Director, Fishing Industry Renewal and Adjustment. He assumed his current position as Director of Seafood Marketing and Support Services in 2008.

Mr. McDonald has a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University, and has completed a variety of educational and training courses, included the Executive Development Program at Memorial.

Walter Daniel Parsons
Walter Parsons has 14 years of international experience in electricity, oil and gas, and telecommunications sectors, most recently as Director, Electricity and Alternative Energy, Department of Natural Resources, a position he has held since 2011. For three years prior, he was Senior Business Development Engineer with Nalcor Energy. Mr. Parsons has had extensive experience in the private sector, including three years as sales engineer, business Intelligence Software, with DataJungle Software in Ottawa; five years as Solutions Consultant, Telecommunications Network Management, with Empowered Networks in Ottawa; and two years with Imperial Oil in Toronto as Programmer Analyst, Fuels Marketing.

Mr. Parsons has a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from Memorial University and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical) from the University of New Brunswick.

2012 06 15                        10:30 a.m.