The changes in the senior management team reflect the expertise and leadership required to implement key policies in government’s new mandate with a focus on people, prosperity and engagement. The team will work collaboratively to move forward the Government’s priorities, including job creation, growing the economy, effective family and human services, stewardship of land and environment, and healthcare.

“Government relies on a professional and dedicated public service, led by a senior team of deputy ministers; as Premier, I look forward to working with this senior management team to engage Islanders as we move our province forward and serve the public,” said MacLauchlan. The Premier announced the following senior management team:

• Brian Douglas, Clerk of Executive Council

• Paul Ledwell, Deputy Minister of Policy and Priorities. This new role combines two senior positions as it replaces the role of Principal Secretary and also serves as the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Affairs (effective June 1);

• John Jamieson, Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (effective May 25);

• Susan Willis, Deputy Minister of the Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture (effective July 2);

• Kim Horrelt, CEO of the PEI Energy Commission

• Steve MacLean, Deputy Minister of the Department of Communities, Land and Environment;

• Neil Stewart, Deputy Minister of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism PEI;

• David Arsenault, Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance;

• Teresa Hennebery, Deputy Minister of the Department of Family and Human Services (effective June 15, 2015);

• Michele Dorsey, Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice and Public Safety;

• John MacQuarrie, Deputy Minister of the Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy;

• Alexander “Sandy” MacDonald, Deputy Minister of the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning;

• Michael Mayne, Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Wellness

“The make-up of the senior management team reflects the depth of talent within the Public Service and the expertise of new members of the team who have demonstrated experience and leadership in their respective sectors,” said the Premier. “I wish those who served in previous positions well in their new endeavours.”

Biographies:

Paul Ledwell:

Paul Ledwell is a seasoned leader, with 25 years senior-level experience in public policy, government affairs, strategic communications and research, including extensive work with partners in government, private and voluntary sectors, and the media.

A native of PEI, he most recently served as Vice-President, Government Clients, with Morneau Shepell, Canada’s leading provider of integrated human capital solutions. Between 2009 and 2014, he served as Executive Vice-President at Canada’s Public Policy Forum, where he led the Forum’s work on innovation, public governance and the economy and contributed to thought leadership in public finance, human capital, health and trade files.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ledwell has established an extensive network of leaders in all sectors, especially in senior government offices, with whom he collaborates regularly. Previously, he served President of Canadian-based think tank the Institute on Governance, as Director of Government Relations and Communications at the University of Ottawa, and as Executive Director of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Paul has led major national initiatives, including the National Summit on Pension Reform, the National Dialogue on Higher Education, the National Consortium for Research and the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. He has been a regular commentator in the media and an invited speaker to conferences in Canada and around the world. Internationally, he has been engaged on issues related to democratic development and governance in Asia and the Middle East, and on innovation and higher education policy in the US and Europe. He has contributed, in a volunteer capacity, to many national organizations and currently contributes his time with several national and international organizations.

John Jamieson:

John Jamieson served as the Executive Director of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture. In that role, Mr. Jamieson was responsible for directing Federation activities on a diverse range of agriculture industry priorities including policy implementation, government relations, regulatory matters, environment and safety nets.

During his time with the Federation, the organization posted budget surpluses every year as manager and increased farm membership each year. Three new farm organizations became members of the Federation, including the Strawberry Growers Association, Beekeepers Association and Woodlot Owners Association.

Mr. Jamieson, a Professional Agrologist and Certified Nutrient Management Planner, has worked in the agriculture industry for a number of years and has a wide variety of experience. He has worked with the Federation of Agriculture since 2004 with the Environmental Farm Plan program. Prior to that Mr. Jamieson worked with the PEI Hog Marketing Board as a food safety consultant and with the Atlantic Swine Research Partnership as a communications officer. Mr. Jamieson worked with the Fishermen’s Association and has maintained a close interest in the fishery.

Mr. Jamieson has participated extensively on a number of committees for the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, including the role of chair of the Agriculture Policy Framework Strategic Investments Working Group, the Agriculture Research Committee, and the Revenue Enhancement Committee. He is a member of the national federation’s working group that developed the organization’s National Food Strategy. Mr. Jamieson sits on the Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture Advisory Committee and sits on the Farm and Food Care Foundation Board of Directors as the only member east of Ontario.

Mr. Jamieson is also very involved in community activities. He is the Past-Chair of the PEI Agriculture Awareness Committee, past-chair of the Bonshaw Community Council, Past-President of the PEI Wildlife Federation, and a member of the PEI Institute of Agrologists.

In his spare time, Mr. Jamieson is an avid cyclist, fly fisherman and outdoorsman. He lives in Bonshaw with his wife Nadine and son David.

Kim Horrelt:

Kim Horrelt received her Certificate of Applied Science from Acadia University and went on to complete her degree in Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Nova Scotia. She continued her education and received her Masters in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University. She has over 20 years experience in the private sector construction and consulting industry. As part of the senior management team of M.F. Schurman Co. Ltd. – once a recognized leader in building supplies, concrete and commercial, industrial, and institutional construction projects on PEI – Ms. Horrelt managed numerous major projects on Prince Edward Island, from design through to completion.

Ms. Horrelt has also held roles as Program Manager of Technology and Media programs at Holland College, and as Director of Infrastructure with the PEI Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. For the past two years she has played a key role at the University of Prince Edward Island as Executive Director of Government and Community Relations. She has played a leadership role on significant special projects such as the development of the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering. In her volunteer life, Ms. Horrelt is Chair of the Board for Habitat for Humanity PEI and a member of the Board of the IWK Hospital. She is a past board member of the Charlottetown Airport Authority and a past board member of Maritime Electric.

Ms. Horrelt lives in Stratford, PEI with her husband John and they have three grown children, Ross, Lisa, and Jamie.

Susan Willis:

Susan Willis is a seasoned leader in education. For the past 39 years she has served as a teacher, vice-principal and principal at Charlottetown Rural High School, serving as principal for 20 years. She was recognized by the Learning Partnership as one of Canada's outstanding Principals in 2007. Ms. Willis chaired a review of high school education for the PEI Department of Education in the 1990's. Ms. Willis has an extensive knowledge of Prince Edward Island’s education system and has worked on committees with the School Board, Department of Education and PEI Teachers Federation during her career.