Nova Scotia Government Undergoes Major Personnel Overhaul

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

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 | New Hire Deputy Minister, Office of Addictions and Mental Health
• Craig Beaton | Title Change Deputy Minister, Opportunities and Social Development (Previously: Deputy Minister Community Services/Status of Women)
• Matthew Boyle | Promotion CEO, Emergency Management (Previously: Director)
• Mike McMurray | Title Change SED, International Relations and Military Relations, Intergovernmental Affairs (Previously: Executive Director, International Relations and Trade)
• Clay Bates | Title Change Executive Director, AI & Cloud Engineering, Cyber Security and Digital Solutions (Previously: Executive Director, Digital Practices and Technology)
• Jean Flynn | Title Change Executive Director, Corporate and Strategic Services, Cyber Security and Digital Solutions (Previously: Executive Director, Digital Culture, Strategy & Performance)
• Kelly Campbell LeFort | Promotion Executive Director, Labour, Skills and Immigration (Previously: Director, Adult Education)
• Graham Lindfield | Promotion Executive Director, Health and Wellness (Previously: Special Advisor)
• Kimberly Forsyth | New Hire Executive Director of Market Development for DFA and DAG, Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Andrea Cooke | Promotion Executive Lead, Land Modernization Initiative, Cyber Security and Digital Solutions (Previously: Project Executive)
• Kathlene Farrell | Promotion Director, International Relations, Intergovernmental Affairs (Previously: Senior Manager, International Relations)
• Toby Balch | Title Change Director of Energy Sector Development, Energy (Previously: Director of Business Investment & Export Development)
• Oliver Mohan | Promotion Director, Restorative Initiatives, Justice (Previously: EHS Manager of Programs)
• Jan Jensen | Title Change Director, Emergency Care and Health System Navigation, Health and Wellness (Previously: Director of Emergency Care)
• Maddi Adams | Promotion Acting Director, Justice (Previously: Manager of Compliance and Enforcement)
• Regina Fox | Promotion Acting Director, Internal Audit (IWK Health), Service Nova Scotia (Previously: Senior Manager)
• Karim Amedjkouh | New Hire Director French Minority Language, Education and Early Childhood Development

Justice: Corrections Overhaul

9 simultaneous promotions cascade through the corrections chain of command: as people move up, openings are filled from below.

• 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 | Promotion Manager, Climate Plan and Strategic Action, Environment and Climate Change (Previously: Funding Navigator)
• Shawna Eason | Title Change Manager, Energy Sector Development, Energy (Previously: Manager, Business Investment and Export Development)
• Rey Richards | Promotion Manager, Investigations and Compliance, Labour, Skills and Immigration (Previously: Audit Manager)
• David Young | Promotion Regional Operations Manager, Emergency Management (Previously: Regional Outreach Officer)
• Cyd Lepage | Title Change Project Executive, Resilient Communities, Emergency Management (Previously: Director, Homelessness and Supportive Housing)
• Kirsty Slauenwhite | Promotion IT/Digital Category Manager, Service Nova Scotia (Previously: Procurement Specialist)
• Kassandra Knight | New Hire Regional Service Delivery Manager Central Region, Opportunities and Social Development
• Peter Horne | Promotion Climate Change Adaptation Lead, Environment and Climate Change (Previously: Coastal Program Administrator)
• Carrie Grant | New Hire Manager, Visitor Services, Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
• Charles Harrington | New Hire Manager, Clean Buildings, Energy

Notable Departures

Leadership-level roles no longer working in the provincial government

• 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
• Patrick Matthews — Director (Service Provider Support), Opportunities and Social Development
• Emad Aziz — Manager (Provincial Business Continuity), Emergency Management

Movement by Department

Peak Departures

• 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).

Peak New Hires

• 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

• 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)
• 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.

Originally published at https://scotiasignal.ca on March 1, 2026.