Gayle Downey
Sidney,BC
Summary
25 years with the British Columbia public service in communications and leadership roles in the laboratory services, public health and healthy living, economic, tourism, technology and natural resource sectors.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Issues; Director, Laboratory Issues and Quality
Ministry of Health
06.2023 - Current
- Leads management of significant issues and adverse events and works collaboratively across the public and private laboratory system to develop recommendations for resolution or mitigation
- Leads work to identify and track service delivery issues across province, escalates as appropriate, and works with public / private partners to resolve at individual or system level
- Leads strategic secretariat support to provincial Laboratory Advisory Committee
- Leads and supports monitoring and reporting including identifying metrics and reporting processes and structures
- Leads development of internal and external communications including reports, briefing notes, correspondence, key messages, presentations, and other
- Leads strategic planning and partner engagement related to provincial laboratory quality initiatives including initiation of provincial quality framework
Sr/Manager, Strategic Coordination Reporting Branch
Ministry of Health
03.2018 - 06.2019
- Project management for ministry priorities, including cross-division liaison and strategic communications coordination for major change initiatives (Wait Times Reduction Strategy, Primary and Community Care Redesign)
- Secretariat support to Associate Deputy Minister’s primary and community care strategic committees (agenda development, actions tracking, liaison with ministry and sector representatives, coordinating information flow, preparing records of decision)
Sr/Manager, Partnerships and Engagement
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
09.2017 - 03.2018
- Strategic communications and event planning for new ministry including inaugural stakeholder engagement and recommendations to improve mental health and addiction services
A/Director, Patient Care Quality Review Boards Secretariat
Ministry Of Health
01.2017 - 09.2017
- Led investigations and supported Board reviews of health care quality complaints
- Collaborated with ministry and health authority experts to identify, track and monitor opportunities for care quality improvements
- Supported Board appointments and led training and orientation for new board members
- Improved quality of board communications and managed staff through significant change
- Worked with internal/external partners to support Board functioning, monitor complaints resolution process to ensure compliance with legislation, identify opportunities for process and care quality improvements, and encourage uptake of improvements across health authorities
- Managed PCQRB budget ($1.3M in 2015/16)
Director, Patient and Client Relations
Ministry of Health
05.2014 - 01.2017
- Led ministry public correspondence program
- Created database of legislative and policy analysis, messaging and context for use in preparing informative, evidence-based responses
- Represented ministry on provincial Patient Care Quality Working Group to improve collaboration and better resolution of care quality complaints and care quality improvements
- Led development of guidance for recommending approval for reviewing and recommending approval for out-of-province funding requests
- Managed staff through significant change management process
- Hired and onboarded 11 staff. Refreshed recruiting, training and orientation resources. Transformed team struggling with low morale and lack of profile into high-performing team of engaged individuals, recognized for their contribution and skill
Director, Intergovernmental Relations
Health and Healthy Living and Sport
12.2008 - 05.2014
- Built partnerships with intergovernmental officials, researchers and stakeholders to support collaboration on national initiatives (e.g., proposed Medical Marijuana Access Program, national MS-CCSVI policy, national sodium reduction strategy, and initiatives of Premier’s Health Care Innovation Working Group
- Provided strategic advice and analysis for Premier to support BC’s leadership of public health and healthy living issues at Council of Federation meetings
- Led multi-disciplinary teams of national experts, service providers, researchers and other stakeholders in development of national policies, and advice for senior and elected officials
- Developed and negotiated support for national Declaration on Prevention and Promotion endorsed by FP/T Ministers of Health and Healthy Living
- Represented BC on FP/T ADMs committee for MOU on Roles and Responsibilities in Pandemic Planning and Preparedness
Director, ActNow BC and Director, Corporate and Priority Initiatives
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
06.2005 - 12.2008
- Served as liaison between program and Public Affairs staff to ensure promotional materials were rooted in evidence, and evidence-based products were aligned with brand
- Provided strategic advice to Minister and senior executive about cross-ministry work to support BC’s healthy living policies and priorities
- Worked across ministries to support integration of health-promoting initiatives through secretariat and policy support to ActNow BC ADMs committee
- Prepared Cabinet, Treasury Board and World Health Organization submissions
- Led development of Healthy Workplaces strategy and Healthy Communities Recognition Program
Senior Manager, Communications
Land and Water BC
11.2004 - 06.2005
Small Business Advocate
Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise
12.2003 - 11.2004
A/Director, Communications
Competition, Science and Enterprise
06.2001 - 12.2003
Asst. Director, Communications
Information, Science and Technology
12.1999 - 06.2001
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Creative Writing And Journalism, Co-op
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC04.1987
Skills
- Building relationships and strategic alliances across organizations
- Leading, planning and coordinating complex projects
- Strategic planning
- Developing recommendations and advice for senior executives and elected officials
- Excellent written and verbal communications
- Creating and high-performing teams
Timeline
Manager, Issues; Director, Laboratory Issues and Quality
Ministry of Health
06.2023 - Current
Sr/Manager, Strategic Coordination Reporting Branch
Ministry of Health
03.2018 - 06.2019
Sr/Manager, Partnerships and Engagement
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
09.2017 - 03.2018
A/Director, Patient Care Quality Review Boards Secretariat
Ministry Of Health
01.2017 - 09.2017
Director, Patient and Client Relations
Ministry of Health
05.2014 - 01.2017
Director, Intergovernmental Relations
Health and Healthy Living and Sport
12.2008 - 05.2014
Director, ActNow BC and Director, Corporate and Priority Initiatives
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
06.2005 - 12.2008
Senior Manager, Communications
Land and Water BC
11.2004 - 06.2005
Small Business Advocate
Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise
12.2003 - 11.2004
A/Director, Communications
Competition, Science and Enterprise
06.2001 - 12.2003
Asst. Director, Communications
Information, Science and Technology
12.1999 - 06.2001
Bachelor of Arts - Creative Writing And Journalism, Co-op
University of Victoria
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