Premier Announces Senior Public Service Appointments

October 8, 2015

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced a number of appointments to the senior executive of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service.

“The individuals who choose to work in our public service are dedicated and knowledgeable people who bring experience and sound leadership to their departments and agencies. Those being appointed today have demonstrated these qualities and I wish them every success as they continue their work on behalf of the people of the province.”
– The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

The following individuals have been appointed:

• Beverley Clarke is appointed as Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Community Services
• Bruce Cooper is appointed as Deputy Minister of the Human Resources Secretariat and Deputy Secretary to Treasury Board.
• Geoff Williams is appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Relations Agency.
• Donna Ballard, QC is appointed as Deputy Minister, Women’s Policy Office.
• Jamie Chippett is appointed as Deputy Minister (Municipal Affairs) of the Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs.
• Colleen Janes is appointed as Deputy Minister of the Department of Environment and Conservation.

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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

Beverley Clarke
Beverley Clarke has worked for over 34 years in the health and community services system. She has been Vice President for Clinical Services with Eastern Health for the past 10 years with responsibility for a number of programs including Professional Practice, Children and Women’s Health, Mental Health and Addictions, Pastoral Care and Ethics, Emergency Services, Paramedicine and Privacy. Prior to this position, Ms. Clarke was the CEO for Health and Community Services – St. John’s (2003-2005). She has also held various senior posts within the Department of Health and Community Services, including Assistant Deputy Minister (1998-2002). Ms. Clarke has been involved as a volunteer at a national and provincial level including a nine-year term on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, a six-year term on the Provincial Kids Eat Smart Foundation and has recently completed her term as the President of the Canadian Executive Council on Addictions. Ms. Clarke has been a surveyor with Accreditation Canada for the past three years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in social work from Memorial University and Master’s Degree in Social Work from Carleton University.

Bruce Cooper
Bruce Cooper started his career with the public service in 1990 and has been in senior leadership positions in the public and non-profit sectors for over 20 years. He has served as Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy and Planning) with the Labour Relations Agency; Assistant Deputy Minister in the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services; Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Social Policy); and Assistant Deputy Minister of Health and Community Services (Policy and Planning). Mr. Cooper has also served as Deputy Minister of Health and Community Services since June of 2010. He is a former Executive Director and Registrar of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers, Sessional Lecturer at Memorial University and Assistant Executive Director of Health and Community Services – St. John’s Region. Mr. Cooper holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees of social work from Memorial University and has engaged in a variety of continuing education efforts including training in Labour Relations through Queens University. Over his career, Mr.Cooper has been involved as a volunteer in the governance of a variety of voluntary and not-for-profit organizations.

Geoff Williams
Geoff Williams was appointed as the Deputy Minister of the Human Resource Secretariat in October 2014. Previously he was appointed as Assistant Deputy Minister (Labour Relations) with the Public Service Secretariat in April 2009. Prior to this, Mr. Williams was the Director of Collective Bargaining with the Public Service Secretariat, a position he held since September 2005. From June 1998 to September 2005, Mr. Williams held various progressively responsible employee relations positions within the health system. He also lectures in employee relations courses part-time at Memorial University’s Faculty of Business Administration. Mr. Williams is a graduate of Memorial University’s multi-disciplinary Master of Employment Relations Program and the Bachelor of Commerce Program. He has also completed additional training related to human resources.

Donna Ballard, QC
Donna Ballard began her career in the public service in 1998 as a solicitor with the Department of Justice and Public Safety (Civil Division). She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Relations Agency. Prior to this, Ms. Ballard held the positions of Assistant Deputy Minister (Courts and Legal Services), Director (Civil Division), and Manager (Litigation Unit) with the Department of Justice and Public Safety. She also served as Cabinet Officer with Cabinet Secretariat, Executive Council. Prior to her employment with the Provincial Government, Ms. Ballard spent six years with a private law firm. She holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University and Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University.

Jamie Chippett
Jamie Chippett joined the provincial public service of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001. Since 2013, he has been the Deputy Minister of Environment and Conservation and served as a member of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board of Directors. From 2011 to 2013 Mr. Chippett was the Deputy Minister of Transportation and Works and held a seat on the Transportation Association of Canada Board of Directors. Prior to these appointments, he held the positions of Deputy Clerk of the Executive Council, Associate Secretary to Cabinet and Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Economic Policy). Mr. Chippett has also held a variety of policy-related positions with the Departments of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs; Tourism, Culture and Recreation; Executive Council; and the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat. Mr. Chippett holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Masters of Science from Memorial University and has completed the Queen’s University Public Executive Program. He is active in the choral community in the province as a member of Newman Sound Men’s Choir and as a member of the Board of Directors of Lady Cove Woman’s Choir.

Colleen Janes
Colleen Janes was most recently the Deputy Minister for Municipal Affairs, Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, a role she has held since June 2013. Since joining the public service in 1996, her career has also included roles of: Assistant Deputy Minister (Professional Services) with the Department of Health and Community Services; Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Social Policy), Executive Council; and Assistant Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat. In 2004, Ms. Janes was a recipient of the Public Service Award of Excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) and a certificate in public administration from Memorial University.

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