Premier Ranj Pillai has made changes to the leadership positions in the departments of Energy, Mines and Resources, Health and Social Services, and Finance.
Samantha Paterson will move from her position as Assistant Deputy Minister for corporate services with Energy, Mines and Resources to a three-month acting assignment as Deputy Minister for the department. Paul McConnell is leaving the Yukon and there is a competition underway to permanently staff this position. This appointment is effective on May 9.
Tiffany Boyd will be appointed to a five-year term position as Deputy Minister for the Department of Health and Social Services with responsibility for the delivery of health care services and their integration into a new health authority. Boyd has been acting in this role since January 2023. This appointment is effective immediately.
Jessica Schultz will be appointed to a five-year term position as Deputy Minister for the Department of Finance. Schultz has been acting in this role since February 2023. This appointment is effective immediately.
Samantha Paterson, Tiffany Boyd and Jessica Schultz are all accomplished leaders with a strong track record over many years as senior public servants. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them. I would like to thank Paul McConnell for his many years of service and leadership with the Yukon government and wish him well in his future endeavours.
Premier Ranj Pillai
Deputy Ministers, including presidents of government corporations, are the most senior public servants in the Government of Yukon. They are responsible for the department or corporation’s budget, day-to-day operations and program development.
Deputy Ministers serve at the pleasure of the Premier.
Biographies
Jessica Schultz
Jessica Schultz has served in the Government of Yukon for nearly three decades. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Department of Finance from her past work in various senior leadership roles across multiple Yukon government departments. Schultz has considerable financial management expertise, and she has consistently provided leadership, mentoring and coaching to build financial capacity across the organization. Since 2019 she has served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Management Board Secretariat and has been acting Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance since February 2023.
Tiffany Boyd
Tiffany has built a career with a focus on service to Yukoners. With a background in health studies, public health, business and human resources Tiffany has spent time working in the non-profit, private sector and most recently, for more than a decade, in senior management roles within the public service spanning central agencies and line departments. Tiffany began her career in government in the Department of Health and Social Services and is pleased to be back. Tiffany, a third generation Yukoner, along with her husband Brian, and three sons, Hudson, Carver and Sawyer, love calling the Yukon their home and enjoys being outside exploring and appreciating all the territory has to offer.
Samantha Paterson
Samantha Paterson is a born-and-raised Yukoner, with over 32 years of experience in the Yukon government public service. She has worked in various positions in intergovernmental relations, policy, communications and administration in the departments of Energy, Mines and Resources, Economic Development, the Executive Council Office and Justice. Since September 2021, she has been an Assistant Deputy Minister in Energy, Mines and Resources. Paterson possesses a master of arts in professional communication with a concentration in strategic and organizational communication from Royal Roads University’s School of Communication and Culture and an executive certificate in intergovernmental negotiation from Carleton University.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca