Premier Prentice establishes Premier’s Advisory Committee on the Alberta Public Service

The Premier’s Advisory Committee on the Alberta Public Service has been established to ensure Alberta’s Public Service is best positioned to meet the needs of Albertans. The committee will begin work in early 2015 to provide advice on:

• Strategies to attract and retain talent in the Alberta Public Service;
• Strategies to modernize the operations of the Alberta Public Service to enhance the quality of service to Albertans; and
• Approaches to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the Alberta Public Service, including the role and size of its management and executive ranks.

“Our government and public service work hand in glove to deliver vital and important services to Albertans and to build the future of our province. I am calling on some of Canada’s best and brightest leaders to provide me with advice in several important areas, including positioning the public service to be innovative and effective, and equipping us to make the best decisions possible as we navigate some difficult waters ahead.”

The six committee members appointed to the Premier’s Advisory Committee on the Alberta Public Service represent private and public sector leaders with strong records of professional achievements and community service. They include:

• Ian Brodie (Co-chair);
• Oryssia Lennie (Co-chair);
• Jim Carter;
• Marc de La Bruyère;
• Linda Hughes; and
• Françoise Morissette.

The committee will meet on a quarterly basis and provide an annual report. Members act in a voluntary capacity without compensation and will be reimbursed for their expenses.

Premier’s Advisory Committee on the Alberta Public Service

Ian Brodie, Co-Chair

Ian Brodie served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2006 to 2008.  After leaving government, he focused on international financial and political developments in emerging markets as a Strategic Advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank. In 2013, Mr. Brodie joined the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. He is responsible for the School’s research programs and teaches in its Masters in Public Policy program.

Oryssia Lennie, Co-Chair

Oryssia Lennie was a Canadian civil servant and former Deputy Minister of Western Economic Diversification Canada. Prior to joining the federal government, Ms. Lennie worked for the Alberta government for 26 years and was Deputy Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs from 1990 to 1997. She has had extensive involvement in constitutional and aboriginal constitutional negotiations and intergovernmental negotiations on social, economic, international trade, and internal trade policy.

Jim Carter

Jim Carter served with Syncrude Canada for 28 years, including 10 years as President and 18 years of Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Syncrude, he held progressively responsible management positions at McIntyre Mines Ltd. and the Iron Ore Company of Canada. Mr. Carter currently serves on the Board of Directors of Finning International Inc., EPCOR Utilities Inc., Clark Builders and ATB Financial. Mr. Carter is also a board member of The Climate Change Emissions Management Corporation and the Alberta Economic Development Authority.

Marc de La Bruyère

Marc de La Bruyère is a Principal and Chairman of Maclab Enterprises in Edmonton. He has served on several educational, community and non-profit boards including those of the University of Alberta, Edmonton Economic Development and the Citadel Theatre. In 2013, Mr. de La Bruyère was appointed Chair of the University of Alberta’s President’s Society, succeeding former chair Jim Edwards. He is currently part of the Alberta Economic Development Authority Executive Board.

Linda Hughes

Linda Hughes served as the 19th Chancellor of the University of Alberta and Chair of the Senate.  She began her career with the Edmonton Journal in 1976 and was appointed the first female publisher of a major newspaper in Canada in 1992. Ms. Hughes has been a member of numerous community boards including most recently the Edmonton Homeless Commission, the Edmonton Community Foundation and the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. Ms. Hughes currently serves on the board of Torstar Corporation. 

Françoise Morissette

Françoise Morissette has been teaching at Queen’s University’s prestigious Industrial Relations Centre since 1994, and was made a Fellow in 2006.  Since 2009, she has become involved with the Alberta School of Business Executive Education. She is also a Fellow at the Wallace McCain Institute, affiliated with the University of New Brunswick.  Ms. Morissette is a consultant, author and academic in the field of Organizational Development, with a focus on System Transformation and Leadership Development.  She co-authored a Canadian best seller: Made in Canada Leadership.