Redford names senior staff and Deputy Ministers

Government of Alberta news releases

Premier Alison Redford announced the following appointments to her senior staff:

Stephen Shapiro was appointed Advisor to the Premier on Policy. Shapiro was President and CEO of St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation in Vancouver, BC.
Hunter Wight will manage the Premier’s Calgary office at McDougall Centre. Prior to his appointment, he was first Vice-President, University Advancement at Calgary’s Mount Royal University.


Jay O’Neill, former Communications Director with Alberta Energy and Alberta Justice has taken on the role of Premier’s Communications Director.

Sandra Jansen will take on the role of Communications Manager for Southern Alberta, working out of McDougall Centre in Calgary. Jansen brings significant experience as a TV anchor and host.

As previously announced, Redford campaign strategist Stephen Carter has been named Chief of Staff.

“This is a team of bright, energetic people that are ready to work together, within my office and with the new Cabinet team, to lead the change that Albertans are looking for,” Redford said.

“I have full confidence in their ability to hit the ground running and help advance our government’s agenda.”


Redford also named a new line-up of deputy ministers to support her Cabinet team in leading change and meeting Albertans’ priorities.

“This deputy minister team will implement an aggressive agenda for change that includes the transition to a new, more effective government structure,” said Redford.
“With the movement of deputies, the change most of our staff will notice will be a change in government culture, characterized by a more collaborative way of doing things and working together to best serve Albertans, not as individual departments but as a single government team.”

The new roster of deputy ministers, including five new faces, will work under the leadership of Peter Watson, who was named to the post of Deputy Minister of Executive Council on October 11.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with many members of the new deputy team already, and I feel confident in this group’s ability to meet the high expectations Premier Redford and Cabinet have of us,” Watson said.

“A priority for me will be ensuring that any changes going on behind-the-scenes don’t negatively impact programs or services for Albertans. I also want to ensure that changes to the government structure proceed as seamlessly as possible for our staff.”