Mount Allison alumni to speak with students about careers in government, public service

Four Mount Allison alumni will speak about their careers in public service and answer students’ question in a panel discussion “Setting Yourself up for success: Careers in Public Service” to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 18 in the Convocation Hall Foyer.

The panellists come from a variety of organizations and possess a highly varied range of both experience and background, from a specialist in criminal and human rights law, a leading analyst and advisor on economic policy, a senior executive in municipal governance, to a health policy professional, who helps run an international non-profit organization on-the-side. They include:

• Debbie Johnston (’90), Senior Counsel at the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections;
• Shannon Milroy (’08), Ontario Health Ministry and cofounder of the non-profit YLabs at Harvard University;
• Nelson Paterson (’06), Chief of Policy Analysis, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, Department of Finance Canada;
• Keith Robicheau (’81), City Manager, City of North Bay, Ontario

“Students are not always aware of the many possible careers in public service, and even if they are, they may not realize the kind of skills that are needed to navigate the public-sector workplace, or the kind of experience that would help them get an entry-level position. This panel gives them access to some real experts,” says Dr. Nauman Farooqi, Dean of Social Sciences.

Debbie Johnston is a Senior Counsel at the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections. She has specialized in criminal law, international human rights law, privacy, and domestic human rights law. Before working with the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections, Johnston worked as a Prosecutor at the Department of Justice Canada. As well as her degree from Mount Allison, she has a LLB & BCL, criminal law from McGill University and a Masters of law, international human rights law & criminal law, from the University of Ottawa.

Shannon Milroy is a health economist specializing in healthcare financing policy, economic evaluation, and impact investment. She works for the Funding Unit at Canada Care Ontario, the Ontario government’s advisor on the cancer and renal healthcare systems. She has an MA in Economics from the University of British Columbia and an MSc in Health Policy from Harvard University.

Nelson Paterson is the Chief of Policy Analysis in the Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch at the Department of Finance Canada. He is responsible for providing analysis and advice on medium-term economic policy issues concerning competitiveness and Canada’s business sector.

Keith Robicheau is an award-winning City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the City of North Bay, ON. He has a depth of experience in municipal government, serving as County Manager with Norfolk County, Ontario, and as Municipal CAO in both Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley and in his hometown of St. Andrews by-the-Sea, NB. Robicheau has also worked for the New Brunswick Government as an internal management consultant for the Treasury Board and as senior policy advisor to the Miramichi Local Government Review Panel.

Photo caption (homepage): Debbie Johnston (’90) will return to campus as part of the “Setting Yourself up for success: Careers in Public Service” panel discussion being held in Convocation Hall on Sept. 18 (6:30 p.m.)