Executive Council
December 6, 2016

Charles Bown to lead Major Projects and Initiatives Unit from The Way Forward

Today, the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced that Charles Bown will spearhead the development of the Major Projects and Initiatives Unit of Executive Council. The unit will oversee the progress of major government initiatives that have fiscal and economic development implications for the province. Mr. Bown, a former Deputy Minister with the Department of Natural Resources, has accepted the role of Chief Executive with Cabinet Secretariat.

"The work of the Major Projects and Initiatives Unit will be critical to the progress of government as we proceed with the vision outlined last month in The Way Forward. This unit will initially be responsible for handling significant project negotiations beginning with the federal loan guarantee on the Lower Churchill Project and the resolution of the ExxonMobil-Murphy Oil NAFTA Challenge. Mr. Bown's career experience with government and his expertise in leading similar project negotiations are well suited for his new role within Executive Council."
- The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

The development of the Major Projects and Initiatives Unit will combine several actions outlined in The Way Forward as government proceeds with an approach focused on efficiency in the public sector, a stronger economic foundation and the pursuit of better services and outcomes. The first priority of the unit will be to address a number of outstanding energy-related projects that have major fiscal and economic development implications. To reach a timely and satisfactory conclusion, the unit will focus on concluding negotiations with the Federal Government and the private sector (notably major oil companies).

In addition the unit will address other projects of major fiscal and economic importance for the province as directed by the Premier. Mr. Bown will engage with executive of Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat, the Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, the Department of Natural Resources, and Nalcor Energy and report directly to the Clerk of Executive Council.

Mr. Bown's biography is included in the backgrounder below.

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Media contact:

Michelle Cannizzaro Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 michellecannizzaro@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Biography of Charles Bown
Charles Bown has served as the Deputy Minister, Natural Resources for the past four years. Previous to that he served as Associate Deputy Minister (Energy) and Assistant Deputy Minister (Energy Policy) with the department. His career with the Provincial Government has also included positions as Director of Mineral Development and Director of the Voisey's Bay Project. Mr. Bown has also served with the Advisory Council on the Economy, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Department of Finance. Mr. Bown is a graduate of Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

2016 12 06            2:00 p.m.