About us
MP
Advisory Group is composed of seasoned industry leaders and brings a wide and
deep knowledge of
government, the not-for-profit and charitable and philanthropic sectors both in
Canada and abroad.
Founded
in 2020, MPAG has quickly gained the confidence and approval of its clients in
areas requiring informed analysis and insight to provide sound, evidence-based
advice to achieve desired outcomes.
We
come from a variety of backgrounds – and all have hired consultants in the past
– so we know what is valuable to our clients and what is not.
Our associates are located from Alberta to
Newfoundland and have a deep understanding of the inner workings of federal,
provincial and regional players. We also understand the complexities of
how various public and not for profit entities work together within a
challenging environment.
What we do
For MPAG, strategic
planning is the informed act of strategic choice – choice based on a clear
vision, goals and objectives – as defined by your organization. There is no one perfect strategic plan –
rather your future strategic plan has to reflect the reality of competing
variables, opportunities and risks. By using a stepwise process, MPAG will work
alongside you and your team to create and deliver a sound plan to realize your
future successes. A well-defined
strategic plan informs sound short and medium-term actions and
investments. It provides a ‘north star’
around which you can align your operational plans to achieve the established
strategic objectives. At MPAG, we have
significant experience in developing strategic plans that yield practical
guidance and application. Strategic
plans that are context specific – whether for government, not-for-profit, research
or other environments and complex ecosystems. Contact us to discuss your strategic planning needs.
The Board /
Chief Executive relationship is one where each has its own mandate and
responsibilities but ultimately depends on the other to ensure the organization
accomplishes its goals and objectives. Ideally
the Board and Chief Executive have a mature, respectful and complementary
relationship, yet we know with any working relationship there is a risk of
conflicts arising. And when they do, they can cause major impacts on the
performance of the organization, including staff morale. The structures and
practices of Board business (e.g., meeting organization, briefings) are
important but do not inherently build a mutually respectful and transparent
relationship for the parties, rather these are the product of earnest work
between the Board and Chief Executive. At MPAG, we have operated on both sides of the table – as Chief
Executives and as Board Chairs and members – we understand the needs of both,
the pressure on each and how on occasion, an external entity can facilitate
better ways of working together. Contact us to discuss your Board/Chief Executive needs.
Governance is
as much a philosophy of practice as a way of working. One that brings together systems, rules, decision
making and structures. For many
organizations, governance is a tacit practice or culture which over time,
underscores the need for clearer and more mature approaches. At MPAG, we understand and know how effective
governance leads to effective organizations – it contributes to an accountable,
healthy and performing organization. We
have significant experience working in complex governance environments which
require thoughtful analysis and response – complex governance does require
complicated governance. Governance reviews are a helpful way to confirm whether
or not your current practices remain fit for purpose, reflect commonly
recommended ways of working which can reduce internal friction caused by lack
of clarity on roles, responsibilities and accountabilities. Contact us to discuss your governance needs.
'Tis better to
define yourself rather than be defined' is a statement worthy of consideration
for those investing in strategic communications. A suite of communications documents (e.g.,
announcements, social media posts, newsletters) do not inherently reflect a
coherent, cohesive and strategic communication to your key stakeholders. At MPAG, we believe it is important to first
define the 'what' before the 'how'. The 'what' is the core of your strategic plan and your associated actions. Messages, Messengers and Medium represent
the three elements of a comprehensive tool box – the how - to action a properly
defined strategic communications plan for coordinated and cohesive work. A strategic communications plan also helps
define your relationship with your stakeholder – how they understand, learn and
feel about your organization. At MPAG,
we have created strategic communications plans that distill the complex into
the understandable to deliver maximum effect and value. We know it’s not enough to be doing – but to
be seen to be doing. We believe how you are seen is directly related to the
investment you apply to developing a sound strategic communications plan. Contact
us to discuss your strategic communications
needs.
The well-known
adage ‘it’s lonely at the top’ was coined because it accurately reflects one of
the challenges for a leader in any organization. While many organizations offer high quality
professional development course and training, Executive Coaching provides a one-on-one
experience. Effective coaching is a
reciprocal relationship where the coach needs to understand the motivations of
the client while the client needs to have the confidence and trust in their
coach. At MPAG, we use both an open-ended
and semi-structured approach to coaching. Ultimately, it’s about developing a relationship with someone who is
facing similar challenges to those we faced in our professional careers. Our goal in coaching is not to deliver ‘the
answer’ but to provide a series of lenses or perspectives through which
individuals come to identify and chart their own way forward. Executive coaching delivers results by building motivation, skills and a
renewed sense of purpose for your most valuable leaders. Contact us to discuss your executive coaching needs.
Whether
starting with a blank slate or re-invigorating an existing structure – MPAG has
significant experience helping our clients create an organization that meets
their operational needs and purpose. Strategy,
structure, people, resources and culture all come to bear on any organization
and represent your collective assets that if well aligned, can deliver
outstanding performance and value. Well-structured
organizations allow for the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts. It allows organizations to learn, adjust and
thrive in complex times and acknowledges that the pace of change is increasing
and so too, the need for organizations to be responsive. While changes and
organization redesigns are needed, the success on effective change leadership –
being authentic, transparent and empathetic. This type of leadership can ensure that changes are properly timed,
structured and sequenced. Additionally, leading and working with staff through
the change can help minimize impact on morale and productivity. In short, an
organizational development plan should ‘sweat’ the details well before a launch
in order to maximize effect. Contact us to discuss your organizational development needs.
Who we are
Michel Perron -
Principal
Michel Perron brings over 37 years of senior level experience with the federal government and not for profit sector. He is recognized for his relationship management skills, political acuity and ability to negotiate value added consensus among the most diverse groups. Michel has extensive experience working internationally and with multilateral organizations.
Michel retired from the Public Service in December 2019 as Executive Vice President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. From 1999-2014, Michel served as Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and was responsible for advancing solutions to address alcohol and other drug-related harm. Michel is fluently bilingual in English and French.
Erika Beresford-Kroeger’s broad professional experience spans non-profit, education, and government sectors in Canadian and international settings. Her management expertise lies in combining innovation with implementation science, particularly in the arena of health education.
The cutting-edge programs Erika has developed, launched, and managed, also include models of social enterprise and social impact assessment (Smith School of Business). Her most recent roles centered on the creation of graduate-level programs in the field of Aging and Health, as well as a ground-breaking professional doctorate in Health Leadership (Queen’s University).
These successes hinged on her ability to forge new partnerships, reach under-served audiences, and challenge the status quo. Her professional experience is augmented by her academic background in policy analysis and public sector financial management (Master of Public Administration, Queen’s), as well as community leadership positions in non-profit governance. Combined, Erika is a creative thinker with the tools to identify and activate solutions addressing complex, system-wide challenges.
Desiree Francis - Associate
Desiree Francis is an experienced project coordinator and a dynamic administrative professional. Desiree brings years of experience from her career in the not-for-profit sector with an enthusiastic purpose for working with the community.
Desiree recently held the inaugural Grant Coordinator position for the PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being. She also has had extensive experience as a Program Coordinator and Community Liaison for the Palix Foundation. Her vast skills in project coordination and community engagement supported the growth of a knowledge mobilization project.
Another career highlight was as Aquatic Director. She launched a brand-new YMCA facility, responsible for creating and training a team, implementing policies and procedures, scheduling, budgeting, and other managerial duties.
Desiree's ability to connect, engage and deliver offers organizations strength and capacity.
Desiree holds a B.A from the University of Lethbridge.
Michelle Gagnon (PhD, MBA) - Associate
Michelle began her career as a nurse (BScN). Building on this foundation, with a passion for lifelong learning, over the years Michelle has worked for and made an impact in a variety of organizations. These include the Policy Research Initiative in the Privy Council Office, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Health Services - Strategic Clinical Networks, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and as President and CEO of the Palix Foundation. Michelle also co-founded and is COO of a small science forward biotechnology company, Pemi31 Therapeutics Inc., and is active on Boards of Directors.
With her rich and diverse experience, Michelle builds bridges across stakeholders, cultures, and sectors to create evidence-informed solutions to important and complex policy, organizational, and governance issues. She has a strong track record for helping organizations achieve results, particularly during times of change and renewal.
Doug Jordan – Associate
Doug has been the Principal in his own firm, AFS Consulting, located in Ottawa, for more than 15 years after 20 years in high technology companies (Mitel, AECL) in Human Resources executive roles.
Educated at Queen’s University (BA, Politics and Economics; MBA, Labour Relations and Organization Behaviour) he subscribes to Stephen Covey’s exertion to ‘sharpen the saw’ and has never stopped learning.
He is primarily interested in providing executive and management effectiveness coaching and career development and transition counseling. He has also facilitated executive teams and boards in developing their organization’s strategic plans. He has been called
upon to coach respondents in harassment situations, mediated conflict, and investigated complex harassment complaints. He lectured at Carleton University for 10 years teaching a course in Organization Behaviour.
Doug Jordan started a second business, AFS Publishing, in 2015 as a vehicle for promoting his own books and helping others with the challenges of self-publishing. He has published 10 books so far: fiction, memoirs, 2 workbooks on career management. His book, The Dynamics of Management, lays out his notions and teachings in management effectiveness. He has been a member of the Canadian Authors Association since 2012; he was instrumental in developing the CAA 2021-26 Strategic Plan and now serves as Treasurer.
Dave Prowten – Associate
Dave Prowten brings over 35 years of experience in the not for profit and corporate sectors. He retired from JDRF Canada after 10 years as the President and CEO, and has worked at several other not for profit models, that operate locally, nationally and globally. He has extensive experience with Boards and volunteers and is a strong relationship and partnership builder. Dave has also effectively advocated to the federal and provincial governments to make positive changes for the stakeholders he represented.
He started his career in Marketing and Sales at Quaker Oats, and continues to apply business principles to build and strengthen organizations.
Stephen Samis – Associate
Stephen Samis has over 25 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in the public, not-for-profit and charitable sectors, in particular health, where he advanced organizational transformation, and led evidence-informed initiatives to improve systems and the health of Canadians. Stephen works with a variety of clients on health and social policy issues, evidence-informed decision-making and leadership development to facilitate system transformation in complex environments, including government.
Stephen was Deputy Minister, Health and Social Services, Government of Yukon from 2017 to 2022. In the Yukon he led system improvement and transformation initiatives as well as the health and social services response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this, Stephen spent seventeen years in Ottawa where he worked in progressively senior roles for pan-Canadian organizations, including the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (now Healthcare Excellence Canada), the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Over the course of his career, Stephen has been a member of many Boards and Committees at national, provincial/territorial and community levels. He is currently co-Senior Advisor for the Canadian Health Leadership Network.
Stephen began his career in British Columbia, where he worked on strategic research, evaluation and policy initiatives at the community level and with the BC Ministry of Health, with a focus on HIV/AIDS and population health.
Stephen holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. He is based in Edmonton, Alberta.
Marcel Saulnier – Associate
Marcel Saulnier is the former
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of the Strategic Policy Branch at Health
Canada. Over the years he has advised government on health care policy, led the
development of bilateral agreements on mental health and home care, and the
foundation for national universal pharmacare. He was Executive Director of the
Secretariat for the Advisory Panel on the Implementation of National Pharmacare
chaired by Dr. Eric Hoskins (2018) and Executive Secretary of the secretariat
support the Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation (2015) chaired by Dr. David
Naylor.
Marcel’s career has
included policy leadership positions at the Canadian Medical Association, the
Prime Minister’s Office, Finance Canada, among others. Marcel has a master’s
degree in Economics from l’Université de Montreal, and a Bachelor’s in
Economics from the University of Ottawa.
Joelle Sholzberg – Associate
Joelle Sholzberg is a creative, bilingual, results-oriented and diligent executive with over 23 years of experience in the not for profit and business sectors. Joelle combines keen professionalism with a sense of fun and excitement. She is recognized for her relationship building, communication skills and strategic thinking.
In her most recent role as the inaugural Executive Director of the Barry F. Lorenzetti Foundation, Joelle achieved tremendous success. She married the family’s interest in mental health with the community’s needs. Secondly, due to her contribution, the Foundation now plays an important role in two areas of mental health in Canada - youth and military-related post-traumatic stress disorder. She always focussed on achieving impact. Joelle’s most significant achievements include seeking and building strategic partnerships and alliances. For example, three major partnerships she established were with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Quebec Veterans Foundation and Head & Hands. She created, developed and managed the first ever women veterans program to reduce the rate of isolation and suicide among women veterans by encouraging organizations to provide resources that are tailored to their unique needs. Joelle possesses outstanding relationship building and interpersonal skills and she has used these to develop a critically important network of stakeholders in the mental health field in Canada.
Previously, Joelle was the Communications Director for the Graham Boeckh Foundation, a foundation that acts as a catalyst for transformational changes that significantly improve the lives of people living with, or at risk of, mental illness. Joelle developed and managed all communications strategies, as well as all communications activities. She was actively involved in the development of the foundation’s new initiatives, and played a strategic role in meetings with various stakeholders. Additionally, she managed many major events within Canada and abroad.
Prior to her work in the not for profit sector, Joelle worked as a consultant in various industries, including tourism, telephony and jewellery. Mandates included, but not limited to, strategic communications, business plan creation and development, and strategic planning.
Joelle has a deep love for arts and culture, travel and dance. She is a graduate of Concordia University (BA, specialization psychology) and Wilfrid Laurier University (MBA).
Jeannie Shoveller – Associate
Jeannie Shoveller, PhD, is a scientific leader and systems transformer, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the health and higher education sectors, including as VP Research IWK Health, Chairperson of Canadian Institutes of Health Research Governing Council, Research Director, BC Centre on Substance Use, and Epidemiology Director, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
As an award-winning academic, Jeannie worksextensively with university leadership, governments and NGOs to improve health and social care systemsin Canada and abroad. She currently holds an academic appointment at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, following a long career at UBC’s Faculty of Medicine. With a focus on strengthening systems to improve health and social outcomes, Jeannie works effectively across sectors, disciplines and in multiple countries to build high functioning organizations.