News release

Citizens Assembly staff in place

VANCOUVER – With all staff now in place, the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform is moving full-steam ahead. Chair Jack Blaney, appointed by the Legislative Assembly in early May, is pleased to announce the following senior staff appointments:

Dr. Leo Perra, Chief Operating Officer

Leo Perra brings 35 years experience as an educator and administrator in B.C.’s post-secondary education system – including 20 years as president and CEO of Selkirk College in Castlegar.

Dr. Ken Carty, Chief Research Officer

Ken Carty is one of Canada’s foremost authorities on electoral systems. He has been seconded from the University of British Columbia where he is a professor and former head of the Political Science department.

Dr. Campbell Sharman, Associate Research Officer

Campbell Sharman, also a distinguished political scientist, joins the Citizens’ Assembly from the University of British Columbia where he is an honorary associate professor. He has taught at universities in both Canada and Australia. 

Carty and Sharman will support Assembly members as they study electoral systems.

Marilyn Jacobson, Director of Communication

Marilyn Jacobson brings over 15 years of organizational communication experience with specialties in issues and project management, strategic planning, stakeholder relations, executive communication and government relations.

Don MacLachlan, Associate Director of Communication

Don MacLachlan joined the Assembly staff from the Pacific Newspaper Group where he was director of communications. Prior to moving into corporate communications, MacLachlan worked in The Province newsroom, including four years as managing editor.

The Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform is an independent, non-partisan group of 158 British Columbians randomly selected from communities around the province to review the way we elect our provincial political representatives. This process is unique in Canadian history; never has such a representative group of citizens played such a vital role in shaping the electoral process.