The Honourable John Hogan, KC, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced appointments within the senior executive of the Provincial Government.

The appointments include:

• Tracy King as Deputy Minister of the Department of Families and Affordability, in addition to serving as Chief Executive Officer (Acting) of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
• Judith Hearn as Deputy Minister of the Department of Government Modernization and Service Delivery.
• Sean Dutton as Deputy Minister of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, in addition to his duties as Chief Procurement Officer (Acting).
• Carol-Ann Gilliard as Deputy Minister of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation.
• Jamie O’Dea as Deputy Minister of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
• Gillian Skinner as Deputy Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, within the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat, Office of the Executive Council.
• Heather Tizzard as Deputy Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Office of the Executive Council.
• Jeannine Herritt as Deputy Minister of the Department of Seniors.
• Rob Greenwood as Deputy Minister of the Department of Rural Economic Development.

These appointments are effective Tuesday, July 15.

The enclosed backgrounder includes the biographies of the deputy ministers.

Quote
“I am pleased to welcome this team to their new leadership roles within the public service. I am confident they will continue to serve the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador with unwavering commitment, passion, and a strong sense of purpose. I wish them continued success as they take on these new responsibilities of service to our province.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

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BACKGROUNDER

Biographies of Executive Appointments

Tracy King
Tracy King most recently served as the Deputy Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Office of the Executive Council. Prior to this role, Ms. King served as Deputy Minister of Education, Deputy Minister of Labrador Affairs, Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment and Deputy Minister of Transportation and Works. Prior to these roles, Ms. King served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Government Renewal Initiative Secretariat, in the Office of the Executive Council, Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Social Policy), and Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Planning, with the Department of Health and Community Services. Ms. King has also held a variety of policy-related positions with the Departments of Justice, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, Health and Community Services, the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat and Cabinet Secretariat.

Ms. King holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Certificate in Public Administration from Memorial University.

Judith Hearn
Judith Hearn joined the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2008 and most recently served as Deputy Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. Before this role, Ms. Hearn served in senior executive positions in a variety of departments including as Deputy Minister in the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, the Office of Women and Gender Equality, the Office of Public Engagement, the Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development and the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation.

Prior to joining the Provincial Government, Ms. Hearn worked in the private sector, engaged in the development and growth of export-oriented technology companies, and as a teacher in the K-12 education system.

Ms. Hearn holds a Bachelor of Education from Memorial and a Bachelor of Arts (History) from Carleton University.

Sean Dutton
Sean Dutton started his career with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1994 and became a Deputy Minister in 2004. He has served as Deputy Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs, Digital Government and Service Newfoundland and Labrador/Government Modernization and Service Delivery, Procurement, Transportation and Works, Environment and Climate Change, and Municipal and Provincial Affairs, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Fire and Emergency Services, Chief Procurement Officer, Chief Information Officer and Deputy Registrar General. Mr. Dutton is a graduate of Acadia University, holding Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Master of Arts degrees, both in political science.

Carol-Ann Gilliard
Carol-Ann Gilliard has served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Tourism since October 2021. Prior to that, Ms. Gilliard served as the Director of Sector Diversification with the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology. When she joined the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2015, she served as the Director of Tourism Product Development, where she led the Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan. Before that, Ms. Gilliard served as the CEO of Hospitality NL for seven years during which time she helped lead the development and implementation of the 10-year provincial tourism vision, Uncommon Potential. Leading up to that, Ms. Gilliard served in various policy, communications and management roles with Hospitality NL and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

Ms. Gilliard holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Education from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Jamie O’Dea
Ms. O’Dea has over 20 years experience in the public sector and has held a number of progressively responsible policy, research and management roles with both Eastern Health and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Ms. O’Dea previously served as Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation and Assistant Deputy Minister, Business and Innovation with the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Director of Pharmaceutical Services with the Department of Health and Community Services and Cabinet Officer in the Office of the Executive Council.

Ms. O’Dea holds a Master of Public Administration Management from Dalhousie University, two Bachelor of Science degrees from both the University of Toronto and Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Gillian Skinner
Gillian Skinner is a senior public service employee with more than 20 years of service with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Since 2022, Ms. Skinner has served as Assistant Secretary to Cabinet, Economic Policy, in the Office of Executive Council. Prior to this, Ms. Skinner held executive positions in the areas of business, innovation and economic development, including as Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry and Economic Development with the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology and Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Development and Diversification with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation. Throughout her public service career, Ms. Skinner held progressively responsible positions with the Province’s economic development department including as Director, Regional Economic Development, as well as a Senior Policy Advisor assignment with Executive Council.

Ms. Skinner holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and is currently completing an Executive Master of Business Administration with a specialty track in Global Leadership.

Heather Tizzard
Heather Tizzard was appointed as Associate Deputy Minister, Industry and Economic Development, in the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology in 2024. Prior to that, she served as Chief Procurement Officer with the Public Procurement Agency, Assistant Deputy Minister, Municipal Infrastructure and Support, and Assistant Deputy Minister, Municipal Finance, with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment. Ms. Tizzard joined the provincial public service in 2000, holding several progressively responsible positions since that time. Throughout her career, Ms. Tizzard has worked with Treasury Board Secretariat, the Department of Finance, the former Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, the former Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and Cabinet Secretariat where she served as Cabinet Officer and Executive Director.

Ms. Tizzard holds a bachelor of arts and a master of business administration degree from Memorial University and is currently working towards a master’s degree in administrative law through Osgoode Hall Law School.

Jeannine Herritt
Jeannine Herritt most recently served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Services, in the Department of Health and Community services. Prior to this, Ms. Herritt held several progressive health care leadership roles with Eastern Health and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Ms. Herritt is a registered nurse and was previously the Chief Nurse with the Department of Health and Community Services. She has diverse experience across the health care continuum and is recognized for her skill in system transformation and change management.

Ms. Herritt holds a Master of Nursing (Leadership) from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from the Centre for Nursing Studies, Memorial University.

Rob Greenwood
Rob Greenwood most recently served as Deputy Minister, Rural and Regional Development and Engagement. Prior to that he served as Associate Vice President (Public Engagement and External Relations) at Memorial University and was the founding Director of the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development.

Dr. Greenwood has served as a Director and Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy in Economic Development departments in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Saskatchewan.

Rob has taught, consulted, published and presented extensively on community economic and regional development, strategic economic planning, sectoral and cluster development, public engagement and knowledge mobilization.

Dr. Greenwood holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Business Studies from the University of Warwick, England, which he attended as a Commonwealth Scholar and an Institute of Social and Economic Research Doctoral Fellow. He completed his Master of History from York University and his B.A. (Hons.) at Memorial University. He has been awarded lifetime achievement awards from the Economic Developers Association of Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador Economic Developers Association, and the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation, and was awarded the Pinnacle Award for Organizational Leadership from the International Association of Business Communicators, Newfoundland and Labrador.