Executive Council
September 5, 2017

Premier Ball Announces Senior Public Service Appointments

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced the appointment of Ann Marie Hann as Clerk of the Executive Council.

Ms. Hann previously worked for almost 20 years in senior roles in the provincial public service. For the past 11 years she worked in Alberta, holding executive positions in two national industry associations and an international mining company. With this appointment, Elizabeth Day resumes her role as Deputy Clerk of the Executive Council.

Premier Ball today also announced two deputy minister appointments:

  • Ron Bowles is appointed to the new role of Deputy Minister of the Labrador Affairs Secretariat. In this role, Mr. Bowles will lead the coordination and enhancement of Provincial Government programs and services delivered in Labrador, manage federal-provincial initiatives involving Labrador, and provide advice on issues and policy development that pertain to Labrador.
  • Donna Ballard, QC, is appointed Deputy Minister of the Department of Children, Seniors, and Social Development and retains her role as Deputy Minister of the Women’s Policy Office. Bruce Cooper, current Deputy Minister of the Department of Children, Seniors, and Social Development, has accepted a new role as Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services with the Government of Northwest Territories effective October 2.

The appointments involving Ms. Hann, Ms. Day, and Mr. Bowles are effective immediately. Ms. Ballard’s appointment is effective September 30.

Biographical information for each appointee can be found in the backgrounder below.

Quote
"I am pleased to have recruited a leader of Ms. Hann’s calibre to the position of Clerk of the Executive Council. Her experience in key roles, both provincially in the public sector and nationally in the private sector, will be tremendously valuable as we continue advancing economic strength, greater efficiency, better services, and improved outcomes through The Way Forward. I’d like to thank Ms. Day as well for her dedication and leadership, and look forward to her continued contributions as Deputy Clerk. In addition, I welcome these deputy ministers to their new roles and look forward to seeing them apply their unique insights and knowledge for the benefit of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I thank Mr. Cooper for the professionalism and commitment he demonstrated throughout his career with the Provincial Government and wish him all the best as he pursues this new opportunity."
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

- 30 -

Learn More
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL external link icon

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

BACKGROUNDER

Biographical Information

Ann Marie Hann
After earning Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Ann Marie Hann pursued a highly successful career, culminating in appointments in the Provincial Government as senior analyst in Cabinet Secretariat of Executive Council, Deputy Minister of Environment and Labour, and CEO of the Workers’ Compensation Board (now WorkplaceNL).

She then moved to Calgary in September 2006 to take the helm of the Propane Gas Association of Canada. Five years later, she moved on to serve as President of the Coal Association of Canada. In December 2015, Ms. Hann accepted the position of Vice-President External Relations with Atrum Coal, an Australian-based mining company seeking to develop mining properties in Canada. In May 2017, she was named Interim Country Manager.

Ann Marie Hann became a certified Board Director by the Institute of Corporate Directors in May 2013. She was twice named one of the top 50 CEO’s in Atlantic Canada (in 2003 and 2005), and was also awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for public service. Ms. Hann is also a trailblazer, being the first woman to hold the position of president in each of the two national industry associations she led.

Elizabeth Day
Elizabeth Day has been employed with the Newfoundland and Labrador public service for 33 years. Ms. Day has held director positions in Service NL and the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services and has had progressive leadership responsibilities in the areas of legislative and policy development, program supervision, project management, staff development and training and horizontal government initiatives. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Clerk of the Executive Council, she served as the Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Social Policy) and has recently held assistant deputy minister positions in the Departments of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development and Advanced Education and Skills and was an Executive Director in the Office of Public Engagement.

Ms. Day was awarded the title Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland (April, 2000). She holds the degrees of Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work from Memorial University and is a registered social worker with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers.

Ron Bowles
Ron Bowles has served in an executive capacity in Labrador from October 2005 to September 2017 as an assistant deputy minister. Prior to that, Mr. Bowles held various management positions within the former Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs since 1998. During his tenure, he co-chaired the Management Committee of the Inuit Communities Agreement, served as the Provincial Government’s representative for the Innu Round Table, and served on the former Institute of Environmental Monitoring and Research. Mr. Bowles has also represented the Provincial Government on the Labrador Winter Games Board of Directors since 2006, and continues to be active as a board member.

Prior to working with the Provincial Government, Mr. Bowles was the Executive Director of the Central Labrador Economic Development Board and served as councillor and deputy mayor of the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Mr. Bowles grew up in Churchill Falls and now resides in Happy Valley-Goose Bay with his wife Jodi and two children; Annie and Matthew. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of New Brunswick, a Bachelor of Education Degree from Memorial University, a Master’s in Public Administration (Management) from Dalhousie University and has completed the Executive Development Program from Memorial University’s Centre for Management Development. Mr. Bowles continues to be an active volunteer in his community and is currently President of the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Rotary Club.

Donna Ballard, QC
Donna Ballard, QC, began her career with the public service in 1998 as a solicitor with the Department of Justice and Public Safety. She was appointed Deputy Minister, Women's Policy Office in October 2015. Prior to this, Ms. Ballard served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Relations Agency from 2013 to 2015. She also served in various management and executive positions in the Department of Justice and Public Safety, including Assistant Deputy Minister (Courts and Legal Services). Prior to joining the public service, she spent six years with a private law firm. Ms. Ballard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Memorial University, a law degree from Dalhousie University and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2013.

2017 09 05                              3:10 p.m.