About This Report
This is our second monthly report tracking leadership changes at the manager level and above across all Nova Scotia provincial departments. Compared to January's report (146 changes), February saw nearly 4x the volume with 580 total changes detected.
All data is sourced from publicly available Nova Scotia government employee directories. We track new hires, title changes (promotions and restructurings), and departures. This information is technically public but rarely compiled in one place.
172
New Hires
96
Title Changes
312
Departures
28
Departments
Month-over-Month Comparison
New Hires
103 → 172 (+67%)
Title Changes
43 → 96 (+123%)
Departures
221 → 312 (+41%)
The Headlines
What actually matters from 580 changes
New Deputy Minister for Addictions and Mental Health
Jennifer Glennie has been named Deputy Minister of the Office of Addictions and Mental Health, a pivotal role as the province continues to grapple with its opioid crisis and rising mental health demands.
Cyber Security rebrands around AI
The Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions is restructuring around artificial intelligence. Clay Bates's division was renamed from “Digital Practices and Technology” to “AI & Cloud Engineering.” Jean Flynn's went from “Digital Culture, Strategy & Performance” to “Corporate and Strategic Services.” 8 title changes in one department.
Correctional system overhaul at Justice
Three captains (Hill, Tabiri, Pothier) promoted to Deputy Superintendent. Three correctional officers (LeFort, Comeau, White) promoted to Captain. Three captains (Williams, MacEachern, Pettipas) promoted to Assistant Deputy Superintendent. That's 9 promotions in the corrections chain of command at once.
312 departures. Biggest wave yet
Public Works lost 80 people. Opportunities and Social Development lost 47. Justice lost 41. Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage lost 36. Natural Resources lost 31, including the Director of Wildlife, Director of Forestry Economic Development, and the Executive Director of Land Services.
Emergency Management director becomes CEO
Matthew Boyle's title changed from “Director” to “CEO” of Emergency Management, a meaningful governance shift that signals greater operational autonomy for the agency. Cyd Lepage also joined EM as “Project Executive, Resilient Communities,” having previously served as Director of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.
Executive & Director-Level Changes
Deputy Ministers, Executive Directors, Directors, and equivalent
Jennifer Glennie
Deputy Minister
Office of Addictions and Mental Health
Craig Beaton
Deputy Minister
Previously: Deputy Minister Community Services/Status of Women
Opportunities and Social Development
Matthew Boyle
CEO
Previously: Director
Emergency Management
Mike McMurray
SED, International Relations and Military Relations
Previously: Executive Director, International Relations and Trade
Intergovernmental Affairs
Clay Bates
Executive Director, AI & Cloud Engineering
Previously: Executive Director, Digital Practices and Technology
Cyber Security and Digital Solutions
Jean Flynn
Executive Director, Corporate and Strategic Services
Previously: Executive Director, Digital Culture, Strategy & Performance
Cyber Security and Digital Solutions
Kelly Campbell LeFort
Executive Director
Previously: Director, Adult Education
Labour, Skills and Immigration
Graham Lindfield
Executive Director
Previously: Special Advisor
Health and Wellness
Kimberly Forsyth
Executive Director of Market Development for DFA and DAG
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Andrea Cooke
Executive Lead, Land Modernization Initiative
Previously: Project Executive
Cyber Security and Digital Solutions
Kathlene Farrell
Director, International Relations
Previously: Senior Manager, International Relations
Intergovernmental Affairs
Toby Balch
Director of Energy Sector Development
Previously: Director of Business Investment & Export Development
Energy
Oliver Mohan
Director, Restorative Initiatives
Previously: EHS Manager of Programs
Justice
Jan Jensen
Director, Emergency Care and Health System Navigation
Previously: Director of Emergency Care
Health and Wellness
Maddi Adams
Acting Director
Previously: Manager of Compliance and Enforcement
Justice
Regina Fox
Acting Director, Internal Audit - IWK Health
Previously: Senior Manager
Service Nova Scotia
Karim Amedjkouh
Director French Minority Language
Education and Early Childhood Development
Justice: Corrections Overhaul
9 simultaneous promotions through the corrections chain of command
These promotions cascade through the ranks: as people move up, openings are filled from below.
| Name | Previous Role | New Role |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Pothier | Assistant Deputy Superintendent | Deputy Superintendent |
| Ryan Hill | Captain | Deputy Superintendent |
| Ohene Tabiri | Captain | Deputy Superintendent |
| Mark Williams | Captain | Asst. Deputy Superintendent |
| Anthony MacEachern | Captain | Asst. Deputy Superintendent |
| Darren Pettipas | Captain | Asst. Deputy Superintendent |
| Jamie LeFort | Correctional Officer | Captain |
| Stephanie White | Correctional Officer | Captain |
| D'Arcy Comeau | Correctional Officer | Captain |
Notable Manager-Level Changes
Managers, leads, and senior operational roles
Clare Arsenault
Manager - Climate Plan and Strategic Action
Previously: Funding Navigator - Program Admin Officer 4
Environment and Climate Change
Shawna Eason
Manager, Energy Sector Development
Previously: Manager, Business Investment and Export Development
Energy
Rey Richards
Manager, Investigations and Compliance
Previously: Audit Manager
Labour, Skills and Immigration
David Young
Regional Operations Manager
Previously: Regional Outreach Officer
Emergency Management
Cyd Lepage
Project Executive, Resilient Communities
Previously: Director, Homelessness and Supportive Housing
Emergency Management
Kirsty Slauenwhite
IT/Digital Category Manager
Previously: Procurement Specialist
Service Nova Scotia
Kassandra Knight
Regional Service Delivery Manager Central Region
Opportunities and Social Development
Peter Horne
Climate Change Adaptation Lead
Previously: Coastal Program Administrator
Environment and Climate Change
Carrie Grant
Manager, Visitor Services
Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Charles Harrington
Manager, Clean Buildings
Energy
Notable Departures
Leadership-level roles no longer in the directory
| Name | Role | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremy White | Senior Executive Director | Office of Service Efficiency |
| Ted Doane | Executive Director | Service Nova Scotia |
| Kim Matheson | Executive Director, CEAW | Education and Early Childhood Development |
| Rola AbiHanna | Executive Director, EDIA | Office of Equity and Anti-Racism |
| Leslie Hickman | Executive Director, Land Services | Natural Resources |
| Carola Knockwood | Executive Director, Mi'kmaq Services | Education and Early Childhood Development |
| Andrew Boyne | Director of Wildlife | Natural Resources |
| Rany Ibrahim | Director, Forestry Economic Development | Natural Resources |
| Meagan Mahoney | Director, Strategic Policy & Planning | Natural Resources |
| Victoria Ross | Director, Land Services Program Renewal | Natural Resources |
| Kathy Greeno | Director, Career Pathways | Education and Early Childhood Development |
| Matthew Dunn | Director, Insurance and Risk Management | Service Nova Scotia |
| Terri Almeda | Director of Programs and Services | Justice |
| Grant MacEachern | Director of Economic Policy | Growth and Development |
| Denise Corra | Communications Director, Justice/OEAR | Justice |
| Patrick Matthews | Director, Service Provider Support | Opportunities and Social Development |
| Emad Aziz | Manager, Provincial Business Continuity | Emergency Management |
Departures by Department
Public Works
80
departures
Opportunities & Social Development
47
departures
Justice
41
departures
Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage
36
departures
Natural Resources
31
departures
Service Nova Scotia
19
departures
Remaining departures across Agriculture (9), Health & Wellness (7), Emergency Management (7), Education (6), Environment (5), Cyber Security (5), and 11 other departments.
New Hires by Department
Public Works
48
new hires
Opportunities & Social Development
44
new hires
Justice
25
new hires
Natural Resources
8
new hires
Service Nova Scotia
6
new hires
Human Rights Commission
4
new hires
Plus new hires across Education (4), Labour (4), Cyber Security (4), Emergency Management (4), and 14 other departments.
Notable New Hires
Senior specialists and roles worth knowing about
| Name | Position | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Mario Rolle | Senior Advisor, Diversity and Inclusion | Justice |
| Nadia Becker | Senior Policy Analyst | Health and Wellness |
| Akintunde Odeniyi | Business Development Executive | Energy |
| Manjyot Aujla | Product Manager | Cyber Security and Digital Solutions |
| Albert Yang | Senior Advisor | Public Works |
| Abbey O'Connell | Human Trafficking Navigator | Justice |
| Maureen Hughes | Corporate Strategist | Labour, Skills and Immigration |
| Rebecca Rose | CA Dartmouth North | Legislative Services |
| Megan Hirons | Forensic Photographer | Justice |
| Kenneth Newcombe | Wildfire Training Officer | Natural Resources |
| Suzanne Teubner | 911 Training and Quality Assurance Supervisor | Emergency Management |
ScotiaSignal Research publishes monthly reports on Nova Scotia public sector leadership changes as a public service. We believe transparency in government leads to better accountability.