Ray Gilmour, Deputy Minister and Secretary to Cabinet
Executive Council Appointed: April 2019
Ray has previously served in several deputy minister positions since joining the public service in 2007.
Before
joining the Alberta government, Ray worked for the City of Medicine Hat and spent 15 years in the banking and financial services industry. Ray is a CPA and graduated with a master of business administration and a bachelor of science in agriculture.
Athana Mentzelopoulos, Deputy Minister
Executive Council, Special Projects Appointed: October 2022
Athana has extensive public service experience in federal and provincial governments, including serving as deputy minister of Finance in BC, where she was also responsible for the BC Securities Commission and the credit union regulator, the Financial Institutions Commission.
She previously served as the deputy minister of Treasury Board and
Finance. Athana has also served in deputy minister roles in the BC ministries of Intergovernmental Relations; Government Communications; Tourism, Skills Training and Labour; and in many senior roles in the federal government. She holds an Honours BA in political science and economics from Carleton University and an MA in contemporary social and political thought from the University of Victoria.
Mark Parsons, Deputy Minister
Executive Council, Intergovernmental Relations Appointed: April 2022
Mark joined the Government of Alberta in 2011 serving in key senior economic roles, including as Chief Economist. Since 2015, Mark served as the Assistant
Deputy Minister of Economics and Fiscal Policy in the Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance, providing leadership on federal-provincial fiscal relations, economics and revenue forecasting, tax policy, fiscal planning and data analytics.
Prior to joining the Government of Alberta, Mark worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Department of Finance Canada in Ottawa. Mark holds a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Alberta.
Zoe Addington, Deputy Chief
Executive Council, Policy Coordination Appointed: February 2022
Zoe joined the Government of Alberta in 2019, in the role of assistant deputy minister, Economic Policy in the Policy
Coordination Office.
With over 2 decades of diverse experience, Zoe has worked in the private sector, with the federal government, in post-secondary, and with industry associations. She also served as the deputy chief of staff and director of Policy to the Premier of Alberta from 2014-15. She is an active volunteer in the not-for-profit sector. She brings creativity as a leader having worked in a wide range of settings including policy coordination and development, regulatory issues and
crisis communications and media relations.
Zoe holds a Master of Business Administration and degrees in political science and historical studies from the University of Calgary, as well as certification in project management from Mount Royal University.
Christopher McPherson, Deputy Clerk and Deputy Secretary to
Cabinet
Executive Council Appointed: April 2019
Since joining the Government of Alberta in 2014, Christopher has held assistant deputy minister roles in strategic communications and, most recently, in economic policy in the Policy Coordination Office.
Prior to his service with the Alberta government, Christopher was director of public affairs for the Ontario Hospital Association
and held senior advisor roles in the Government of Ontario.
Lora Pillipow, Deputy Minister
Advanced Education Appointed: September 2021
Lora has held a number of senior-level leadership roles throughout her extensive
tenure with the Alberta Public Service, having served as deputy minister of Culture and Status of Women, deputy clerk to Executive Council, deputy secretary to Cabinet, and in a number of assistant deputy minister positions for various ministries, including Environment and Parks, Culture and Tourism, and Human Services.
Lora’s extensive policy background and leadership experience supports Advanced Education’s innovative work to deliver high-quality post-secondary education and prepare
Alberta’s labour market for the province’s economic recovery and prosperity.
Stephanie Clarke, Deputy Minister
Affordability and Utilities Appointed: October 2022
Stephanie joined the Government of Alberta
in 2003 and has served as a member of the leadership teams for Environment and Parks, Municipal Affairs and Energy.
Prior to her most recent role, Stephanie served as the associate deputy minister of Natural Gas and Utilities. Stephanie also served as the assistant deputy minister of Resource Stewardship within Environment and Parks, the assistant deputy minister of Energy Policy, assistant deputy minister of Municipal Assessment and Grants, and held executive portfolios related to
cumulative effects management, strategy development and foresight, and municipal sustainability.
Stephanie holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Jason Hale, Deputy Minister
Agriculture and Irrigation Appointed: October 2022
Jason Hale has experience in the oil and gas sector, has been a cattle rancher in southern Alberta for over 30 years, was a professional bull fighter, and was an elected Member for the Eastern Irrigation District and Alberta Beef Producers. As a former Member of Legislative Assembly (April 2012 – May 2015), Jason served on 3 legislative
committees and was the opposition critic for Energy; where he provided critical assessment of government policy and programs. He sat on multiple community boards such as the Advisory Committee for the Medicine Hat College and Crawling Valley Recreations Society. Jason has a Chemical Technology diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
Sherri Wilson, Deputy Minister
Children’s Services Appointed: December 2020
Sherri has spent more than 2 decades in the Government of Alberta and served in a number of executive roles in the ministries of Treasury Board and Finance, Health, Executive Council, and (former) Human Services. She has extensive experience in the social and health
sector and she is proud to provide leadership on services for families and children in Alberta.
Sherri was asked to return to Health in the spring of 2020 to serve as Incident Commander of the Health Emergency Operations Centre during the critical early days of the pandemic.
Sherri has a bachelor of science from Dalhousie University.
Kim Capstick, Managing Director
Communications and Public Engagement Appointed: March 2020
Kim Capstick was appointed managing director of Communications and Public Engagement in March 2020. Kim’s career with the Alberta government spans 2 decades, and includes establishing and co-leading the team that would take on the unprecedented work of
creating a system for legalized cannabis in Alberta, establishing and leading teams through wildfire and flood recovery, leading the development of a comprehensive communications framework on natural resource development and serving as director of communications in several ministries.
Heather Caltagirone,
Deputy Minister
Culture Appointed: September 2021
Heather has dedicated almost 25 years to public service, most recently serving as an assistant deputy minister with Alberta Education.
She has a wealth of senior leadership experience in the areas of learning and development, organizational transformation, leadership, systems thinking and human and organizational development.
Born and
raised in Alberta, Heather holds both a master's degree and PhD in human and organizational systems from Fielding Graduate University.
Andre Tremblay, Deputy Minister
Education Appointed: January 2021
Andre has over 20 years of
public sector experience that includes provincial and municipal governments as well as non-government organizations and academia. Since joining the Alberta Public Service, Andre has served in a variety of senior leadership roles, most recently as deputy minister Agriculture and Forestry, and as deputy minister of Transportation. In addition, Andre served as associate deputy minister of Health, assistant deputy minister of Social Policy at Executive Council and assistant deputy minister of
Apprenticeship and Student Aid at Advanced Education. Andre was also previously appointed as the deputy clerk of Executive Council and deputy secretary to Cabinet.
Andre graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of arts and a master of arts. He has a professional Economic Developer designation from the University of Waterloo, and has completed executive leadership programs at Queen’s University and the Ivey School of Business.
Grant Sprague, Deputy Minister
Energy Appointed: April 2019
Prior to his return as deputy minister of Energy, Grant served as associate counsel at Miller Thomson LLP where he provided advice on natural resource and environmental law,
administrative law matters, and regulatory processes involving government. Previously, he served as deputy minister of Energy from July 2013 to May 2016 and Chair of the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission. Grant also served as Chief of the Policy Coordination Office of Executive Council and as assistant deputy minister of Alberta Justice.
Grant was appointed King’s Counsel for Alberta in December of 2010 and is a Senior Fellow with the C.D. Howe Institute and a sessional
lecturer at the University of Alberta School of Business.
Katarzyna (Kasha) Piquette, Deputy Minister
Environment and Protected Areas Appointed: October 2022
While new to the
Alberta Public Service, Kasha Piquette has over 20 years of international leadership experience in governance, finance and capital markets. Kasha has a record of accomplishments building and leading new businesses and achieving dynamic and profitable growth. She held key leadership positions within Canadian and international charter banks. Kasha has worked internationally and dealt with complex financial situations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America.
Kasha graduated from
the Warsaw School of Economics, completed an international MBA Program. Kasha also carries a number of professional designations including Certified Financial Planner (CFP-Canada), Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM), Fellow of Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI), Certificate in ESG (environmental, social and governance) Investing, CFA Institute and others.
Most recently, while at Invest Alberta (Alberta Crown Corporation) Kasha co-led the reinsurance task force,
influenced regulatory changes and led the ESG think tank at Transformation Re.
Shannon Marchand, Deputy Minister
Forestry, Parks and Tourism Appointed: October 2022
Shannon was appointed Deputy
Minister of Forestry, Parks and Tourism in October 2022. He has served as a deputy minister since 2015, in Seniors and Housing, Community and Social Services, and Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development.
Before that, Shannon served as the Deputy Chief of the Policy Co-ordination Office at Executive Council, Acting Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, and held assistant deputy minister positions in the ministries of Culture, and Human Services. His other
government experience has been in the employment, immigration and intergovernmental relations areas.
Paul Wynnyk, Deputy Minister
Health Appointed: May 2021
Paul joined the Alberta Public Service in 2019 as
Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs. Prior to that he served as an officer in the Canadian Forces for more than 38 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General. Along with tours and commands overseas in Afghanistan, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Germany, he held numerous high-level positions in Canada, including command of the Canadian Army and – most recently – Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
Born in Edmonton and raised in Breton, Alberta, Paul attended Royal
Roads Military College and the Royal Military College of Canada. He holds a baccalaureate in civil engineering, and master’s degrees in both war studies and business administration.
Donavon Young, Deputy Minister
Indigenous Relations Appointed: April 2014
Donavon brings 35 years of direct experience and knowledge to his position in Indigenous Relations – at the national level, with 2 provincial governments and at the community level. He joined the Government of Alberta in 2005 as an assistant deputy minister (7 years at Aboriginal Relations and 2 years at Alberta Justice) until April
2014 when he was appointed as a deputy minister.
From 1995 to 2005, Donavon worked for the Government of Saskatchewan (Aboriginal Relations) as an assistant deputy minister for most of that time. From 1992 to 1995, he worked for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples as the Urban Research and Policy Coordinator. Donavon also worked in research and program development at the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Metis Studies and Applied Research from 1983 to 1992.
Mary Persson, Deputy Minister
Infrastructure Appointed: August 2021
Prior to her appointment as deputy minister of Infrastructure, Mary served as the City of Edmonton's chief financial officer and deputy city manager
for the Financial and Corporate Services department. Previously she served as assistant deputy minister of Financial and Corporate Services at Alberta Health and senior assistant deputy minister at Treasury Board and Finance.
Mary has well-rounded financial and public policy experience in large, complex organizations, including the Government of Canada, University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services and the Government of Alberta. She has a master of business administration from the
University of Alberta, is a Fellow with the Chartered Professional Accountants, and has earned certifications in Risk Management Assurance and Auditing. She has her Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D designation and has served on numerous boards over the years, including as a board member for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Francis Winspear Centre for Music.
Shawn McLeod, Deputy Minister
Jobs, Economy and Northern Development Appointed: October 2022
Shawn has extensive legal and labour relations experience, including a number of years in private legal practice, a decade with the Alberta Labour Relations
Board, public sector experience with the federal Department of Justice, and most recently, practicing law and labour relations in the private sector. He previously served as deputy minister of Labour and Immigration.
Shawn has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor Law from the University of Alberta and a French language certificate from the University of Quebec.
Frank Bosscha, Deputy Minister
Justice Appointed: August 2019
Frank Bosscha, K.C., joined the Ministry of Justice in 2012, when he was appointed as director and corporate counsel for the Health legal team. Before that, he spent 12 years in private practice
and 11 years with the federal government leading teams specializing in tax law and Indigenous issues.
Prior to his appointment as deputy minister, he was the assistant deputy minister of Legal Services for just over 5 years responsible for the Alberta government’s civil law practice and Legislative Counsel Office.
Bryce
Stewart, Deputy Minister
Mental Health and Addiction Appointed: October 2022
Bryce Stewart joined the Government of Alberta in 2006 and has held several assistant deputy minister (ADM) positions. Most recently he served as Associate Deputy Minister with Alberta Health, and as senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Systems Integration at Alberta Health. Prior to joining
Health, Bryce was a senior ADM in Treasury Board and Finance (TBF).
Bryce has also served as ADM of Budget Development and Reporting in TBF and ADM roles in the Public Service Commission, the former Human Services Ministry, and in the Policy Coordination Office in Executive Council.
Brandy Cox, Deputy Minister
Municipal Affairs Appointed: May 2021
Brandy joined the Government of Alberta in 2003 and spent more than a decade in Municipal Affairs. She also served in executive roles at 4 departments.
Most recently, she was
the assistant deputy minister (ADM) of Consumer, Registry and Strategic Services and Acting ADM of Shared Services at Service Alberta. Previously she served as ADM of Corporate Strategies and Services in Infrastructure, ADM of Economic Policy in Executive Council, executive director (ED) of Cabinet Coordination Office and ED of External Relations Sector in the former Alberta Innovation and Advanced
Education.
Brandy holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from York University.
Dennis Cooley, Deputy Minister
Public Safety and Emergency Services Appointed: October 2022
Dennis
has extensive experience in the public service throughout Canada. Prior to his appointment, he spent 5 years as associate deputy minister of Justice and Solicitor General, and spent 5 years in Saskatchewan as associate deputy minister of Justice, Corrections and Policing and 8 years in Yukon as deputy minister of Justice.
Dennis completed his Ph.D. at the University of Manitoba in 1995. He held various positions with the Government of Canada and was the executive director of the Law
Commission of Canada from 1999 to 2004.
Tim Grant, Deputy Minister and Public Service Commissioner
Public Service Commission Appointed: April 2019
Tim joined the public service in 2008. Over
his career, he’s held senior positions as assistant deputy minister at Energy, and as deputy minister at Transportation, Justice and Solicitor General, and Service Alberta. He also led the government’s response to the 2011 Slave Lake wildfire.
Tim is a former officer who served in the Canadian Forces for 31 years, rising to the rank of Major General. He is a graduate of the University of Guelph and of the Canadian Forces College.
Cynthia Farmer, Deputy Minister
Seniors, Community and Social Services Appointed: October 2022
Cynthia has served as deputy minister in Service Alberta, assistant deputy minister in Community and Social Services, Economic Development and Trade, Alberta
Energy and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. She has been a member of the public service since 1999.
Cynthia graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education degree.
Lisa Sadownik, Deputy Minister
Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Appointed: October 2022
Lisa has been with the Alberta Public Service since 1998. She has held positions in a number of different ministries, and has served in various economic, environmental and social policy related executive leadership roles since 2011.
Lisa previously served as deputy minister of Seniors and Housing. Prior to becoming assistant deputy
minister (ADM) of Lands at Environment and Parks in 2019, Lisa served as ADM of Food and Value-Added Processing with Agriculture and Forestry, ADM of Social Policy with the Policy Coordination Office of Executive Council, and ADM of Policy and Community Engagement with Human Services.
Lisa has degrees in Meteorology and Environmental Physical Sciences from the University of Alberta.
David James, Deputy Minister
Technology and Innovation Appointed: October 2022
David James has been with the Government of Alberta since 2011. He previously served as deputy minister of Service Alberta, and has held senior roles as associate deputy minister of
Natural Gas and Electricity, assistant deputy minister for Strategic Policy and assistant deputy minister for Electricity and Sustainable Energy, at Alberta Energy.
David previously served as a telecommunications officer with the Canadian Forces. He has an undergraduate degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering, and a Masters of Business Administration, both from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Bev Yee, Deputy Minister
Skilled Trades and Professions Appointed: October 2022
Bev has been with the Government of Alberta since 1994. Previously, she has served as the deputy minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Environment and
Parks. She has also held five assistant deputy roles.
Bev holds a bachelor of education and a bachelor of science.
Ako Ufodike, Deputy Minister
Trade, Immigration and
Multiculturalism Appointed: October 2022
Akolisa Ufodike brings his experience as assistant professor at York University where he taught auditing at the undergraduate level, data analysis for performance audits and public sector finance at the graduate level. His research focused on accountability, public private partnerships (P3's), labour market integration, and equity, diversity and inclusion in business professions.
He is a licensed public practitioner by CPA
Alberta. He has almost 30 years of professional experience spanning telecoms, banking, utilities, education, oil and gas and consumer packaged goods with organizations including Bell Canada and Molson Coors. Prior to academia, he was CFO/COO of one of the largest wireless internet service providers in Canada.
A graduate of Haskayne’s PHD and Cornell’s MBA programs, Dr. Ufodike is a Canadian FCPA, a US CPA, a UK FCCA and a Certified Fraud Examiner. He is also a Certified Director (ICD.D) of
the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Dr. Ufodike is active in the community and previously served as Chair of the John Ware Institute a non-profit he founded that aspires to make public company boards more diverse. He also served as a member of the Provincial Audit Committee for the province of Alberta and on the Senate of the University of Calgary.
Rae-Ann Lajeunesse, Deputy Minister
Transportation and Economic Corridors Appointed: January 2020
Rae-Ann joined the Alberta Public Service in 1995 as a correctional peace officer at the Edmonton Remand Centre. She worked her way up through the Alberta Public Service in a variety of roles from frontline to
management, and across operational, corporate and policy functions.
Prior to her appointment as Deputy Minister of Transportation, Rae-Ann held 4 ADM positions in the ministries of Justice and Solicitor General, Human Services and Children’s Services.
Rae-Ann holds a correctional services diploma from Grant MacEwan College, as well as a bachelor of arts and master of distance education both from Athabasca University.
Katherine White, Deputy Minister
Treasury Board and Finance Appointed: October 2022
Prior to this appointment, Katherine (Kate) was the deputy minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation. She previously served as the
deputy minister of Finance and secretary to the Management Board for the Government of Yukon. Most of Kate’s public service career has been with the Government of Alberta, where she held the positions of assistant deputy minister of economics and fiscal policy at Treasury Board and Finance, as well as chief economist and many others.
Kate is an economist by profession, with a passion for public policy and public sector leadership. She holds a master of arts in economics from the
University of Calgary and a bachelor of science from Dalhousie University.
