Bio
Paul LaFleche is an experienced senior executive and strategic advisor in government, academia and economic development. He has had a varied career in the private and public sectors.
dStarting in the natural resources field as an exploration geoscientist, his focus was to connect applied research to economic development through the use of innovative exploration technologies. He practiced as a geoscientist in the university, government and private sectors as a professor, research scientist and consultant. Interested in furthering the development of technological applications to Canada’s economic challenges, Paul entered the field of public administration to focus on bridging the academic/business gap that he had experienced in the university and private sector research laboratory domains.
Paul LaFleche was appointed Secretary to the Nova Scotia Executive Council in 2003 and Clerk in 2004 and he was appointed Deputy Minister of the Nova Scotia departments of Agriculture and Fisheries & Aquaculture in 2007. In 2012, Paul was appointed Deputy Minister for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. From 2016 to 2018 Paul served as Chair, Council of Deputy Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety, and in 2018 served as Co-Chair, Council of Deputy Ministers Infrastructure and Chair of the Council of Deputy Ministers of Public Works. Paul served as President of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Nova Scotia and is a licensed vocational education teacher with a Diploma in Adult Education from the Nova Scotia Community College. He holds Masters and Doctorate degrees from McGill University, a Bachelors of Science from Loyola College, Concordia University and a Masters in Public Administration from Carleton University. He is a Fellow of Geoscientist Canada.
Paul LaFleche remains a committed public servant who believes economic and social development are best achieved through the competitiveness driven by innovation in business practices and technologies, and also by forging a spirit of community and purpose in citizens. In the last two decades, he has given many presentations on various topics including: rural economic development, public sector management, training, post-secondary education, research & development, automobile insurance theory and practice.