ACTION CANADA - Key Persons

Andrea Reimer has been a strong public voice in the Vancouver region for over two decades with a focus on making government easy to access and giving people the tools to hold power accountable.Andrea started her public work as a community organizer on issues of social, economic and environmental justice. In 2002 she was elected to the Vancouver School Board, and went on to be elected to three terms on Vancouver City Council. During her decade on City Council, Andrea led the City's effort to be the Greenest City on Earth and the first major cities in the Americas to commit to 100% renewable energy, championed Vancouver's nationally significant municipal framework for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, catalyzed the City's digital strategy, grew the largest municipal childcare program in Canada, and transformed public engagement and open government policies. In addition to her work at City Council, Andrea was appointed to the Metro Vancouver Regional District from 2008-2018 where she served on the Planning, Zero Waste and Climate Action Committees, helped found the BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council, and was Vice Chair of the national Green Municipal Fund. After retiring from municipal politics in 2018, Andrea was awarded a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design in recognition of her significant civic leadership. She subsequently was appointed as the inaugural policy practitioner fellow at UBC's School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. In 2020 Andrea founded Taw w Strategies, a consulting firm that supports courageous leaders taking bold action on the biggest public policy challenges of our times. She teaches about power and public policy as an Adjunct Professor of Practice at UBC's School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, about engagement as an Instructor in SFU's Dialogue and Engagement Certificate program, and is currently the lead designed on a new nine-course Climate Action Certificate at SFU. In addition to her public and professional roles, Andrea has also been a prolific community volunteer serving on boards of diverse organizations ranging from a credit union to the Canadian Women Voters Congress. She is currently a director of TransLink, elected to the World Future Council, on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Steering Committee and was recently appointed to the BC government's Climate Solutions Council. She has been recognized with several awards including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award and the World Green Building Council Chairman's Award, and is a sought after public commentator and guest speaker.

Job Titles:

• Senior Director of Corporate Planning, Policy and Research at the Canada Infrastructure Bank

Andrew Posluns has been the Senior Director of Corporate Planning, Policy and Research at the Canada Infrastructure Bank ("CIB") since June, 2020. In this capacity, Andrew is responsible for leading the development of the CIB's corporate planning and reporting, its sustainability initiatives, and partnering with thought-leaders and institutions on infrastructure related research.

Angèle McCaie had the immense pleasure to participate in the Action Canada program as a fellow as part of the 2019/2020 cohort. Since 2013, she has occupied the role of Chief Administrative Officer for a small, rural, francophone and Acadian municipality in New Brunswick called Rogersville, her hometown. She is fervent in the pursuit of creative solutions to public challenges, and she considers herself a passionate feminist and a minority rights activist. She lives in Collette, New Brunswick with her partner and two children.

Job Titles:

• Foreign Service Officer at Global Affairs Canada.Ana
• FR / EN Leader

Anne is a bilingual FR/EN leader with over ten years of experience in project management, program development and strategic partnerships. She holds a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and a master's in Biotechnology & Management. Her skills have led her to work in many fields, including Federal agencies, Corporations and nonprofit organizations.

Job Titles:

• President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers

Brian Kingston is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA). The CVMA represents Canada's leading manufacturers of light and heavy duty motor vehicles. Its membership includes Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, General Motors of Canada Company, and Stellantis (FCA Canada). Prior to joining the CVMA, Brian was Vice President of Policy, Fiscal and International, at the Business Council of Canada where he led the Council's economic policy priorities and global engagement. From 2009 to 2012 he served in the federal government with positions at the Department of Finance, Global Affairs Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Privy Council Office. Brian is active in the non-profit sector including as past president of the Ottawa Economics Association and as a current board member of the Banff Forum. Brian holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Carleton University, a master's degree in international affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and an MBA from Ivey Business School.

Job Titles:

• Communications Specialist

Catherine Maurice is a communications specialist based in the Greater Montréal area. She currently works as Director of Media Relations and Operational Communications for exo, a public transit authority that oversees the north and south shores' bus and paratransit services, as well as commuter rail services throughout the Greater Montréal area. Exo serves over 82 municipalities and the Kahnawake community.

Darren Fung is an award winning Canadian film composer. He caught the composing bug at age fifteen when he wrote a piece for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's Young Composer Project. After finishing his degree at McGill and living and loving Montreal for twelve years, Darren is now based out of Los Angeles. Amongst his credits, Darren recreated Canada's second national anthem, the beloved Hockey Theme, for CTV and TSN. Every weekday morning his music is heard on CTV's flagship morning news program, Canada AM. His work was the focus of Bell Canada's Orchestra spot, run during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and was voted as Canada's top commercial by readers of The Globe and Mail. His critically acclaimed work on the mini-series Lost Years garnered him a 2012 Canadian Screen Award nomination. His much-lauded score to The Great Human Odyssey, recorded with members of the Edmonton Symphony and Pro Coro Canada, was recently released on the prestigious Varèse Sarabande label. His feature and short film scores have been heard at prestigious film festivals around the world, including Toronto, Cannes, and Sundance. Darren currently serves as the Second Vice President of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada, and acts as a Program Advisor for the Canadian Film Centre's Slaight Music Residency. He also sits on the Creative Ecologies Advisory Board for the Banff Centre's Peter Lougheed Leadership Institute.

Job Titles:

• Leader
• President of PrairiesCan

Diane Gray was appointed President of PrairiesCan on October 31, 2022. Ms. Gray is a recognized leader with extensive experience in business development and trade. Prior to her appointment, Diane was the founding President and CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc., the largest inland port in North America. From 1995 to 2009, Ms. Gray held three portfolios for the Province of Manitoba, serving as Deputy Minister of Finance; Federal-Provincial and International Relations; and Trade. Ms. Gray chairs the James W. Burns Leadership Institute and serves on the boards of the Public Policy Forum of Canada and the Associates of the Asper School of Business. Ms. Gray holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Manitoba.

Job Titles:

• Associate Professor in the University of Toronto

Dr. Shoshanna Saxe is an Associate Professor in the University of Toronto's Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering. She holds a masters from MIT and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. She investigates the relationship between the infrastructure we build and the society we create to identify opportunities - and pathways - to better align infrastructure provision with sustainability. Saxe is a former Action Canada fellow, sits on Waterfront Toronto's Capital Peer Review Panel, Metrolinx Project Evaluation Committee and the board of Action Canada. She was awarded the 2019 OPEA Engineering Medal - Young Engineer. Her research and commentary have been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Toronto Star, The Financial Post, and Wired, including "What We Really Need Are Good ‘Dumb' Cities" (New York Times, July 2019)

Ginger Gosnell-Myers - of Nisga'a and Kwakwak'awakw heritage is passionate about advancing Aboriginal rights and knowledge, while breaking down barriers between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Board of Shipowners of Saint - Laurent

Guillaum Dubreuil has developed expertise in public affairs and international trade throughout his career. He represents the CSL Group and its Canadian entity, Canada Steamship Lines, in dealings with governmental bodies and external partners both in Canada and internationally, and manages various internal projects. Prior to joining CSL, Guillaum spent four years as Senior Director of Public Affairs at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the largest business organization in the country. In this role, he contributed to the negotiations of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUMA) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union, and acted as the Sherpa for the B7, the summit of G7 business groups. Much of Guillaum's international business experience was acquired while working at Languages Canada, Canada's association of language schools, where he traveled the world promoting the teaching of Canada's official languages. Guillaum has also worked at Universities Canada and, prior to that, as an entrepreneur and consultant. Currently, Guillaum serves as the Chairman of the Board of Shipowners of Saint-Laurent, the outgoing President of the Board of the Association of Young Chambers of Commerce of Québec, and a member of the boards of Cargo M and SODES. A proud Baiverain by birth and Montrealer by adoption, he studied psychology at UQAC (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi) and administration at UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal), and holds a certification from the Institute of Leadership in Management.

Job Titles:

• Simon Fraser University President

Katie Davey is a 2019-2020 Action Canada alumna. She is the executive director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick where she leads the only social entrepreneurship and social innovation centre in the province. Katie identifies as a public policy entrepreneur working at the intersection of our biggest social and economic challenges. She uses creative and innovative solutions to improve or solve existing policy, program, and system challenges, specifically those challenges that create inequalities and impact the most vulnerable people in our world. Her goal is to redesign our systems to create a more inclusive future for all. Katie served as director of policy and PPF Media at the Public Policy Forum, a leading independent Canadian think tank. In this role, she built PPF Media and the Atlantic Initiative from the ground up. In 2021 Katie was recognized as a Young Impact Leader by Future of Good for her ‘intraprenuership' at the Public Policy Forum. In 2019, Katie created Femme Wonk - a policy and current affairs podcast with an Atlantic Canadian and intersectional flare that allowed her to interview politicians, community builders, and changemakers. Katie served as director of policy and stakeholder relations at the Office of the Official Opposition in New Brunswick, senior adviser for policy and stakeholder engagement in the New Brunswick premier's office and president of the University of New Brunswick Student Union. She was a member of the Youth Working Group on Gender Equality for the Government of Canada, and a 2019-20 Action Canada Fellow. Katie holds a degree in political science from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Applied Politics from Wilfrid Laurier University. Katie advocates for the integration of economic and social policy.

Job Titles:

• Public Policy Leader, Community

Matt DeCourcey is a public policy leader, community builder, and former Member of Parliament with extensive experience advising decision makers at the local, national, and international level. He is Head of Corporate Affairs with InterKnowlogy, where he leads the organization's strategic initiatives and growth opportunities. His knowledge of politics and public affairs, experience developing strategic partnerships, and ability to shape and influence policy, has helped him advise international NGO's, post-secondary leaders, and Canada's ministers of finance, foreign affairs and immigration. As Member of Parliament for Fredericton from 2015 to 2019, Matt secured federal investment to expand critical transport and trade infrastructure, advance preventative healthcare, and significantly increase the population and workforce of New Brunswick. He has worked with vulnerable children in the global south and represented Canada in such fora as the United Nations Security Council and the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe. Fluent in English and French, Matt is an accomplished athlete, coach and official at the collegiate level, an adjunct professor, and mentor and member of Canada's leading public policy and leadership development Fellowship-Action Canada. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy and incoming President of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians. Matt is published on issues including healthy aging, research and innovation, workforce growth and immigration, and child rights. He has established and built multiple platforms that foster substantive dialogue and learning to support the socio-economic success of Canadians, and to advance the wellbeing of marginalized persons around the world. A proud New Brunswicker, he now lives in Peterborough, Ontario, with his wife, Maryam, and their infant son. He enjoys soccer, golf, running, and sampling the flavours at the occasional craft brewery.

Job Titles:

• Director of Operations to Two Cabinet Ministers

Melissa Cotton is a seasoned government relations professional. She brings over 20 years of progressive political involvement to the table, after having spent time working on Parliament Hill in Ottawa working for Senators and MP's and most recently having served six years as the Managing Director of the Government Caucus Research Bureau, where she provided advice to the Prime Minister, Cabinet and government MP's while managing a team of over 40 staff. Melissa has always had a love of public service and politics. In 2015, she became the first woman to run a parliamentary Research Bureau.Currently, she is the Director of Government Affairs for CN Rail, having joined the company in 2022. Melissa has served as the Director of Operations to two Cabinet Ministers in the Ontario government, and she began her career in Student Services and Human Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. In her spare time Melissa serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Club of Ottawa, is involved with the Shoebox Project, and a variety of organizations aimed at increasing engagement of women and girls in public policy and politics. A proud prairie girl at heart, Melissa hails from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She studied Sociology and Human Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan and Carleton University.

Job Titles:

• Program Director for the Newly Revamped Policy Leadership Program
• Retired

Rachel Wernick retired from the federal public service in May 2023 after a distinguished career as an executive in policy and program design that culminated in her role as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Skills and Employment at Employment and Social Development Canada. She led reforms to the Youth Employment Strategy, the Skills for Success program, and the co-development of the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training program. Her leadership extended to the establishment of the Future Skills Center, an independent center for skills innovation and research. Rachel is one of Canada's leading practitioners in social and employment policy having gained experience in a variety of executive roles at Canadian Heritage, the Privy Council Office, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Public Works and Government Services. Rachel's passion for policy excellence resulted in her appointment as Co-Champion of the Clerk's Policy Community initiative; a role she held for five years. Rachel's expertise includes workforce development, skills innovation, the future of work, skills and employment for marginalized populations and gender and diversity analysis. Rachel is a strong proponent of the benefit of user-driven design and has a proven ability to lead multi-partner collaboration to take something from policy idea or challenge through to actionable options for implementation. Rachel is the Program Director for the newly revamped Policy Leadership Program (PLP), which is tailored to meet the evolving needs of public service policy executives early in their leadership development. The PLP is delivered through a partnership between the Public Policy Forum and Telfer Executive Programs at the University of Ottawa. Rachel joined PPF as a Fellow in October, 2023.

Job Titles:

• Director of Sustainability at Keyera
• Executive Director of the Action Canada Fellowship

Sara-Christine Gemson is the Executive Director of the Action Canada Fellowship and PPF Academy. She is a 2015/16 Action Canada Fellow and a long-serving member of the Action Canada Board. She was Director of Communications at Teach For Canada, a non-profit that recruits, prepares, and supports teachers to work in First Nations communities in northern Ontario. Before joining Teach For Canada, Sara-Christine worked for 7 years as a TV, radio, and web journalist, primarily for Radio-Canada in Toronto and Regina. While in Saskatchewan, she covered provincial and federal elections, the attempted hostile takeover of Potash Corp, and two Grey Cups. She also produced special series on First Nations employment and on the challenges facing the fransaskois education system after 20 years of autonomy. In the Toronto newsroom, Sara-Christine also replaced as a radio host and produced the 6 o'clock news. Times. In 2012-13, Sara-Christine was an Aga Khan journalism fellow in Kenya, where she wrote for the Daily Nation, the most read newspaper in the country. She also contributed to the Globe and Mail, CBC, Radio-Canada, The Hamilton Spectator, and Monocle Radio on topics ranging from the Kenyan elections to food waste. Sara-Christine completed a B.A. in Philosophy and Communications at the University of Ottawa. She also completed an M.Phil in Comparative Government at Oxford University. Between degrees, Sara-Christine taught English for two years in Japan, working in high schools for athletes, students with academic challenges, and students with severe mental and physical disabilities. Sara-Christine is a proud Franco-Ontarian from Mississauga. Kris is the Director of Sustainability at Keyera, one of Canada's largest midstream energy companies, where he leads a team to enable best-in-class environmental, social and governance performance through strategic alignment, implementing best practices in sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. He has also held sustainability roles with Suncor Energy and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. In addition to work, Kris is an active volunteer, most recently as a member of the Board of Governors for the University of Calgary where held the positions of Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability Committee.