The Transition Team for Premier Smith – Some Old and New Faces in New Places

Premier Danielle Smith named the team that will support her transition to Premier at her first meeting with UCP caucus on October 7th. This team will work with the new Premier to choose cabinet members, fill key staff positions, and coordinate the focus of ministries. It will immediately begin work on an accelerated transition lasting less than a month.

Premier Smith’s transition team includes eight individuals, the majority of whom will form the core Premier’s Office staff. It carries some continuity from the previous government (i.e. the Mozeson’s and Marshall Smith).  At the same time, it introduces some new faces fitting the old Wildrose description. Only time will tell as to whether the diverse team will help Premier Smith achieve her goals of party unity.    

Rob Anderson – Executive Director

Source: Free Alberta Strategy

Rob Anderson is a lawyer and former MLA who represented the constituency of Airdrie between 2007 and 2015. He returned to the practice of law at an Airdrie-based firm for a few years before taking a leave of absence to act as Campaign Chair for Danielle Smith in the latest UCP leadership race.    

When Danielle Smith left the PC party to join the Wildrose Alliance in 2009, Anderson was sent by the party to talk her out of it. He subsequently joined the Wildrose Party in 2010 and was named Deputy Leader. Anderson resigned from the Wildrose Party in 2014, when he participated in the mass floor crossing of Wildrose members and rejoined the PCs.

Anderson is notably responsible for developing the “Free Alberta Strategy”, a policy proposal that has developed the concept for Smith’s Alberta Sovereignty Act. The proposal outlines a series of initiatives to make Alberta a sovereign jurisdiction within Canada.

Marshall Smith – Chief of Staff

Source: LinkedIn

Over the last three years, Marshall Smith worked as Chief of Staff for the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. He has previously held senior positions in the British Columbia government, including Chief of Staff to the Minister responsible to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid, Municipal Affairs, and Immigration and Multicultural Service.

Peter Guthrie – Caucus Liaison

Source: UCP Caucus

Peter Guthrie was elected in the 2019 general election as the MLA for Airdrie-Cochrane.  Prior to entering politics, he was a private business owner in the ranching and retail industries for almost 20 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, and also worked for several years in the chemical and manufacturing industries.

Guthrie was one of the first caucus members to vocalize his support Smith during the UCP leadership race. He was critical on the record and in the media of former Premier Kenny’s handing of the COVID-19 pandemic and called for his resignation ahead of his leadership review.

Erika Barootes – Principal Secretary

Source: Twitter

Erika Barootes has prior experience working in the Alberta government, as Special Assistant to the Minister of Education, Caucus Director, and Senior Manager of Government Communications at the Premier’s Office. Barootes also has extensive experience in the private and non-profit sector in a variety of roles, has owned her own business, and served on boards. She was the first President of the United Conservative Party and managed its digital content during the winning 2019 campaign. Most recently, she was Western Canada VP of the national lobby firm, Enterprise Canada.  Barootes was elected as one of three nominees in Alberta’s 2021 Senate nominee election last October.

Chief Billy Morin – Special Advisor on Indigenous Relations

Source: LinkedIn

Chief Billy Morin was elected as the youngest Chief in Enoch Cree Nation’s history in 2015, at 28 years old.  He served three consecutive terms as Chief, after previously serving two terms as band councillor. During this time, he helped champion a resurgence in Nehiyaw Cree language, culture, and identity in his community. He also served a term as Grand Chief of Alberta’s Treaty 6 First Nations.

Morin is currently a Managing Director of Axxcelus Capital Advisory, a company dedicated to facilitating growth in Indigenous asset ownership. He has always been a strong advocate of collaboration between all Canadians, government, and sectors, and has championed numerous partnerships for his Nation.

Jamie Mozeson – Executive Director of Government Strategy

Source: LinkedIn

Jamie Mozeson has over a decade of experience working in politics and government, at both the provincial and federal level. She recently served as Chief of Staff the Minister of Service Alberta. She was also Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Official of Opposition and, earlier, a Policy Manager in the Premier’s Office. Mozeson served on the 2008, 2011, 2015 Conservative Party of Canada campaigns as well as the 2015 and 2019 Alberta provincial campaigns.  

In June 2021, Mozeson started as the Western Canada VP of Jenny Byrne and Associates, a Government and Public Relations firm, headquartered in Toronto.

Jonah Mozeson – Executive Director of Communications

Source: Facebook

Jonah Mozeson is married to Jamie Mozeson. His experience working in politics dates back to the Harper Government. Mozeson served as the Director of Communications to Labour Minister Rona Ambrose. In the UCP government, he has worked as the Press Secretary and Chief of Staff to the Minister of Justice, and most recently as the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Innovation.

Matt Solberg – Executive Director of Caucus

Source: New West Public Affairs

Matt Solberg worked for the Wildrose Party alongside Paul Hinman, Danielle Smith, and Brian Jean, between 2012 and 2017. In 2017, he started work at New West Public Affairs, a public relations firm based in Calgary. He was also Director of Communications for the United Conservative Party during its 2019 election campaign.  Solberg became a Partner at New West in 2021.