Executive Council
January 16, 2015
Premier Announces Senior Public Service Appointments
The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced several changes to the senior executive of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service.
"Our province is fortunate to be served by some of the finest public service professionals anywhere in Canada. The members of our senior executive bring considerable expertise, experience and dedication to the work they do on behalf of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I thank each individual appointed to a new role today for their ongoing service and wish them well with their new departments."
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
The following Deputy Ministers have been appointed to new departments:
- Rachelle Cochrane moves from the Office of Public Engagement to the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.
- Lori Anne Companion moves from Advanced Education and Skills to the Department of Transportation and Works.
- Genevieve (Gig) Dooling moves from Child, Youth and Family Services to the Department of Advanced Education and Skills.
- Judith Hearn moves from Seniors, Wellness and Social Development to the Office of Public Engagement.
- Brent Meade moves from Transportation and Works to the Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development.
All appointments are effective Monday, January 19, 2015.
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Media contacts:
|
Heather MacLean
Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709 729 3581 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
Donna Ivey
Special Assistant, Communications Office of the Premier 709 729 3551 Donnaivey@gov.nl.ca |
Backgrounder
Premier Announces Senior Public Service Appointments
Biographies
Rachelle Cochrane
Ms. Cochrane is currently Deputy Minister of the Office of Public Engagement. Ms. Cochrane has also served as Deputy Minister of the Women's Policy Office, Deputy Minister of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Deputy Minister responsible for Provincial Government programs and Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Relations Agency. Since beginning her career with the Provincial Government in 1988 as a Labour Market Analyst with the Department of Education, she has served in various other roles, including Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy and Planning) with the Labour Relations Agency; Assistant Deputy Minister (Post-secondary), Department of Education; Project Director, Department of Environment and Labour; Assistant Deputy Minister, the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat; and Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Human Resources and Employment.
Ms. Cochrane holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and business from Memorial University, a diploma in accounting from the College of Trades and Technology, and a post-secondary teaching certificate from the Department of Education.
Lori Anne Companion
Ms. Companion was appointed as Deputy Minister of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills in August, 2013 and has been a member of the provincial public service since 1986. She has held several senior management and executive positions within the public service. Prior to her appointment with Department of Advanced Education and Skills, she was Deputy Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services and also served as Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy and Programs) with that department. Her other roles include Assistant Deputy Minister (Municipal Support and Policy), Department of Municipal Affairs; Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; and Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Economic Policy).
Ms. Companion received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and statistics from Memorial University, and has completed Memorial's Executive Development Program.
Genevieve Dooling
Ms. Dooling began her career with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1989 after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Memorial University. She is currently the Deputy Minister of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services. Prior to that appointment, Ms. Dooling served as Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Relations Agency. Her other executive roles have included Assistant Deputy Clerk of the Executive Council; Assistant Deputy Minister, Special Assignment Office of the Executive Council; and Assistant Deputy Minister (Corporate Services), Department of Child, Youth and Family Services. Ms. Dooling's previous positions also included Senior Director Executive Support, Department of Business; Director of Strategic Human Resource Management for Executive Council; Director of Policy, Planning, Accountability and Information Management, Department of Finance; and Senior Policy Analyst, Department of Business. She has also served as a budget analyst, senior policy analyst, appeals officer and audit supervisor with the Department of Finance.
In addition to a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Ms. Dooling has completed the fifth level of the Certified Management Accountant Program and the requirements for the Public Sector Leadership and Management Development Certificate, all at Memorial University.
Judith A. Hearn
As Deputy Minister, Ms. Hearn was most recently responsible for leading the newly established Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, which includes the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Disability Policy Office. Ms. Hearn had previously led the former Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and sat as a member of the Board of Directors of The Rooms, the province's museum, gallery and archives, and as a Board member of both the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Board and the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership. Prior to her appointment to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Ms. Hearn spent three years as Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade and Export Development, in the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development.
Ms. Hearn came to the Provincial Government from industry where she spent eight years in the development and growth of export-oriented information technology companies. Her previous positions include: 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. Ms. Hearn was also a teacher in Newfoundland and Labrador's secondary education system for several years prior to her work in the private sector.
Ms. Hearn holds a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and a Bachelor of Arts (History) from Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
Brent Meade
Brent Meade was appointed Deputy Minister of Transportation and Works on May 1, 2013. Prior to his current portfolio, he was Deputy Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development from January 2009 to April 2013 and Deputy Minister of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation from May 2007 to December 2008. He has also held senior positions within the Executive Council (Intergovernmental Affairs and Cabinet Secretariat) and with special assignments such as the Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada. He has worked extensively in rural parts of the province, in areas such as fisheries adjustment programs, human resource development, community economic development, cultural tourism development and business development. Originally from Stephenville on the province's west coast, he was also active for many years in several family businesses.
Mr. Meade has extensive experience as a member of various boards and advisory groups in business, public administration, regional development, tourism and cultural industries. He is presently on the National Board of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada and chairs their Domestic and International Programs Committee. Mr. Meade has a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Acadia University; a Master's Certificate in Project Management from York University; and has completed DirEXion, an intensive leadership program through the Canada School of Public Service.
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