Premier Ranj Pillai has announced senior leadership changes in the departments of Environment, Economic Development and the French Language Services Directorate.
The current deputy minister of the Environment and French Language Services Directorate Manon Moreau will be retiring from the Government of Yukon.
Michael Prochazka will be the deputy minister of the Department of Environment. Mr. Prochazka has been serving as the acting deputy minister of the Department of Economic Development since May 2023.
Deborah Lemaire will be the acting deputy minister of the Department of Economic Development for six months.
Sierra van der Meer has been appointed deputy minister of the French Language Services Directorate in addition to her current role as deputy minister of Tourism and Culture and the Women and Gender Equity Directorate.
All appointments are effective January 17.
Thank you to the new deputy ministers for taking on important leadership roles. Together, we will keep the momentum going and continue to build a strong, sustainable Yukon. A special thanks to Manon Moreau, the outgoing deputy minister of Environment, and best wishes in her retirement.
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Deputy ministers, including presidents of government corporations, are the most senior public servants in the Government of Yukon. They are responsible for the department’s or corporation’s budget, day-to-day operations and program development.
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Deputy ministers serve at the pleasure of the Premier.
Biographies
Michael Prochazka
Michael Prochazka has dedicated his career to helping communities in the Yukon and across Canada to develop social and economic opportunities. With a background in natural and cultural resource management, heritage presentation, and project management, Mr. Prochazka brings a people-centred approach to public service. He began his public sector career with the federal government, holding various leadership roles with Parks Canada before joining the Yukon government in 2018. In that time, Mr. Prochazka worked for the Yukon Development Corporation and the Department of Economic Development, most recently serving as the department’s assistant deputy minister and acting deputy minister. Mr. Prochazka is passionate about the Yukon and sharing time outdoors with his wife Krista and their two teenage daughters.
Deborah Lemaire
Deborah Lemaire has held various leadership roles in the business and non-profit sector before joining the Government of Yukon in 2011. Since then, she has worked for Lotteries Yukon and the Department of Economic Development as director of regional economic development and is currently the acting assistant deputy minister. She has dedicated her public service career to jointly developing community-based initiatives and opportunities that support economic growth and the social, ecological and cultural wellbeing of Yukon communities. Although she enjoys travelling and exploring the world with her husband and two daughters, she is most passionate about the Yukon and is honoured to call it "home".
Sierra van der Meer
Sierra van der Meer moved to the Yukon in 2003 and joined the federal public service in 2007. She held director positions in strategic investments, environment and corporate services before becoming regional director of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) in 2015. Van der Meer championed COVID-19 economic relief programs that provided rapid and critical support to a wide range of Yukon businesses and organizations during the pandemic. She was promoted to vice-president of CanNor in 2021 and gained responsibility for all three northern territories. Van der Meer completed her grade school at Ecole J.H. Picard, a French immersion high school, before receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Simon Fraser University.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Ash Kayseas
Public Service Commission
867-332-3188
ashley.kayseas@yukon.ca