Ministers and Deputy Ministers

• Honourable David Hancock, Q.C.
  Minister of Education (Government House Leader)
  Dave Hancock is in his fourth term as a Member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly.  On March 13, 2008, he was sworn in as Minister of Education and as Government House Leader.  He was also appointed as a member of the Agenda Priorities Committee and Treasury Board.  Previous ministerial appointments include Health and Wellness, Advanced Education, Justice and Attorney General, and Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.  He was also Vice Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Education and Employment and member of the Agenda and Priorities Committee and Treasury Board.
  
  Mr. Hancock is a lawyer by profession and was a partner with Matheson and Company, Barristers and Solicitors before entering public service.  He received his law degree from the University of Alberta in 1979.
  
  He is a strong believer in giving back to the community and in the important ways all citizens can contribute to student success.  He supports numerous non-profit and service organizations including: Success By 6; Meals On Wheels; Kiwanis Club and Special Olympics Edmonton.
  
  
• Honourable Doug Horner
  Minister of Advanced Education and Technology
  Doug Horner was elected to his third term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert on March 3, 2008, and sworn in as Minister of Advanced Education and Technology on March 13, 2008. During his second term he also served as Minister of Advanced Education and Technology and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Additionally, he served as vice-chair of the Agenda and Priorities Committee and is a member of the Treasury Board and the Cabinet Policy Committee on Managing Growth Pressures.
  
  Mr. Horner also has a solid business background, graduating from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) with a diploma in business. After completing further studies, he was accredited by the Institute of Canadian Bankers.
  
  Before being elected to the Alberta Legislature, Mr. Horner had extensive experience in the private sector, including banking in southern Alberta and a sound understanding of the value-added sector of agriculture. He was integral in the start-up and operations of his family’s barley and oat processing mill. Later he became responsible for international marketing and sales of specialty grains for ConAgra out of its Nebraska office. After three years he moved back to Canada and established a trading company for agrifoods and agrifeeds for domestic and international markets.
  
  Mr. Horner is an active member of his community. He is currently a member of the Spruce Grove & District Chamber of Commerce, the St. Albert Parkland Rotary Club, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Loyal Edmonton Regiment Association as well as several other service and community organizations.
  
  Mr. Horner has previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Law and Regulations, the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services and the Standing Policy Committee on Justice and Government Services. He has also served as chair of the Alberta government’s Information and Communications Technology Implementation Committee and vice-chair of the Alberta Grain Commission.
  
  
• Honourable Diane Finley
  Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
  Diane Finley was first elected to Parliament in 2004 and re-elected in 2006 and 2008. In February 2006, she was appointed Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and in January 2007, she was named Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
  
  Ms. Finley began her professional career as an administrator of the University of Western Ontario's French Immersion School. Prior to her election, she held several senior positions in both the public and private sectors encompassing health care, transportation, agricultural equipment manufacturing, printing and publishing, and aviation.
  
  In addition, Ms. Finley has been active with a number of organizations, including the Brant Community Care Access Centre, the National Standards Committee of the Paramedic Association of Canada, the Ambulance Service Alliance of Ontario, and the Ontario Government Health Policy Advisory Council. Most recently, Ms. Finley has been working with the Thyroid Foundation of Canada. In February 2006, she was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, a hyperthyroidism condition, which has led to her wearing tinted lenses full time.
  
  Ms. Finley has a bachelor’s degree in administrative studies and a master's in business administration from the University of Western Ontario.
  
  
• Keray Henke
  Deputy Minister of Alberta Education
  Keray was born and raised in Central Alberta.  He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at the University of Alberta in 1974 and started work with the federal government. 
  
  He joined the Provincial civil service in January 1980 as a policy analyst with Alberta Treasury (now the Ministry of Finance).   He also commenced work on his Certified Management Accountant course work, receiving his designation in 1984.Keray transferred to Executive Council as Director of Finance & Administration in 1991, serving briefly under Premier Don Getty.  He continued in that position under Premier Ralph Klein for a number of years. 
  
  He completed his course work for his Masters Degree in Public Administration, at the University of Alberta graduating in 1994.
  
  In 1999, Keray joined the new Ministry of Children’s Services, his first experience in a social delivery department, as Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for finance, human resources, information technology, legal services, administrative support, business and strategic planning. In February 2005, Keray was appointed Deputy Minister of Alberta Education.
  
  Keray is a member of the Board of Directors for Careers: The Next Generation, and for the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region.
  
  Keray is the Head of the Canadian Delegation to the Education Policy Committee (EPC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).Keray was elected Chair of the Education Policy Committee of the OECD, effective January 1, 2009. The work of Education Policy Committee reflects and complements the priorities of the OECD as a whole, in providing employment opportunities for all, improving human capital and social cohesion. It contributes to fulfilling the Directorate for Education’s mission of assisting OECD member countries and non-members to achieve high quality lifelong learning for all, which contributes to personal development, sustainable economic growth and social cohesion.  The OECD is headquartered in Paris, France.
  
  
• Janice Charette
  Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
  Janice Charette was appointed Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada on July 1, 2006.
  
  Prior to that appointment, Ms. Charette had been the Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada since December of 2004. From 2003 to 2004, she was Associate Deputy Minister of Health. She was also the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Plans and Consultation, Privy Council Office (PCO).
  
  From 2000-2002, Ms. Charette was Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Priorities and Planning) at the PCO, and from 1999-2000 she was the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the Policy Sector at the Department of Justice.
  
  From 1996 to 1999, Ms. Charette held a series of positions in the private sector, including Principal in the management consulting firm of Ernst & Young and Director of the Transition Team for the start-up of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. From 1993 to 1996, she held positions with the PCO and the Prime Minister's Office, including Executive Director of the team that coordinated the federal government's program review exercise. Prior to 1993, Ms. Charette held policy advisor positions with the Department of Finance, the Office of Privatization and Regulatory Affairs, and the Federal-Provincial Relations Office.