Good health is one of the most valuable things we can have. Our health is our wealth.
Jeff’s main passion during his career has been supporting organizations that care for people’s health and wellness. He has worked with a number of key public health organizations, including four of Canada’s major regional health authorities. Most recently, he was Director of Public Affairs for B.C.’s largest health authority.
In May 2003, Jeff began his work in public health at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency when Canada announced its first case of BSE (also known as mad cow disease). This news was a blow to Canada’s reputation as having one of the safest food supplies in the world and soon led to the U.S. shutting down its border to Canadian beef and cattle.
As Communications Officer, Jeff helped manage the Emergency Operations Centre in Alberta, and was responsible for media relations and keeping key stakeholders apprised of the ongoing situation. This work led to Jeff receiving the Head of the Public Service Award for his role in managing the crisis.
Since that time, he’s continued to support important work in health care, health research and public health.
Highlights:
Supported a Medical Officer of Health with a pandemic preparedness plan, which included developing the plan, graphic design and a media launch.
Helped a major regional health authority during COVID-19 with communications and media relations and managed an acute-care site emergency operations centre as a public information officer.
Developed annual influenza vaccination campaigns (urban and rural) for a health region.
Provided strategic and tactical media relations and communications guidance to a health authority board, executive team and leaders.
Developed communications plans for major health initiatives, social marketing campaigns and major capital projects.
Media trained over 100 executives during his career and helped organizations tell their stories through the news media and social media.
Related Education and Training:
Carleton University: degree in Journalism and Political Science.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: COVID-19 Contact Tracing.
Accredited in public relations from the Canadian Public Relations Society.
Certificate in Public Participation from IAP2.