Meet new CEO Dana Mackie...

Alberta Municipalities’ Board of Directors announced the appointment of Dana Mackie as the association’s new Chief Executive Officer on December 12, 2024.

What follows is a short profile of Dana that sheds light on who our new CEO is, what he values, and what motivates him.

Who is Dana Mackie?

I’m the father of two great children, a dedicated professional to public service and advancing the interests of Albertans, and a culinary enthusiast. I enjoy Alberta’s majestic parks and public lands. If I’m not working or at home, cooking, you can find me at the gym or practicing yoga. I was born and raised in Calgary, and I currently reside in Edmonton.

How would previous colleagues and peers describe your leadership style and personality?

Former colleagues and peers would describe me as personable, collaborative, corporately minded, forward thinking, and driven. They would probably mention my tendency to be stakeholder (or member) oriented – something that was cultivated within me at a young age and through my experiences in the hospitality industry.

What do you identify as your core strengths, and how have they contributed to your success?

I’m a natural systems thinker. I enjoy people. I have a love for and knack with numbers. I’m a skilled collaborator. I have a strong results-based management skillset. I actively pursue continuous improvement. I have more than a decade of advocacy and intergovernmental experience, as well as experience in multiple sectors (i.e., agriculture, economic development, education, environment, international and intergovernmental relations, and social services).

What has been your most significant achievement? Why does it stand out to you, and what was your process for achieving it?

I’m proud of the work I contributed to in Alberta’s Seniors sector over the last three years. Specifically, we built out a comprehensive system of supports to better respond to and prevent elder abuse in Alberta. We also created a province-wide framework and model for practical supports for seniors who wish to age in their preferred communities and living situations.

These achievements showcase the power of collaborative and collective impact organizations. New provincial programming is in place today because community partners worked together on areas of common interest and effectively coordinated and communicated their priorities and requests. It was a real privilege to work with these partners and feel confident that the decisions we made together had impact. I left this file knowing we’ve strengthened support for seniors in Alberta. It reinforced my belief in the power of collaboration and community-driven innovation.

What inspired you to pursue an opportunity with Alberta Municipalities?

Outside of a long-standing interest in municipal governance and service delivery, I've been impressed with the work of Alberta Municipalities.

Whether it’s collaboration with non-profit organizations, recreational opportunities in our beautiful parks, strategies to grow and make our communities vibrant, or the management of our roads, sewers, and utilities – I find this work tangible, critically important and extremely appealing. 

As a former provincial official, I found ABmunis’ annual convention to be an excellent venue in which to exchange information, dispel misunderstandings, and work collaboratively towards solutions. The association’s advocacy work is top notch. Our ability to convene space for dialogue and systems’ discussions is unique and of incredible value to advancing good public policy for all Albertans.

I also find the business and service delivery side of Alberta Municipalities compelling. I appreciate and value the strategic approach ABmunis took to create multiple lines of business that both provide customized and affordable services for our members and generate revenue that can be directed towards improving services and our ongoing advocacy efforts.

Lastly, my varied background in service, coupled with my MBA and interests in strong corporate governance, seemed to fit very well in terms of experience and interest.

What motivates you as a leader, and how do you inspire those you lead?

I like to know that we’re making a positive difference in people’s lives – both with each other in our work environments and, more broadly, with respect to our members and the public we serve. Alberta is my home. I want our province to continue to be one of the best places to grow up, raise a family, have a successful career and retire. I like to remind my teams of our collective vision and mission and the opportunity pursuing that mission provides to us as professionals to self-actualize and get to know the full potential of our province and Albertans.

How do you intend to connect with and hear from ABmunis’ members throughout 2025?

In the short term, I’ll be focused on on-boarding and working closely with our Board of Directors to fully understand our collective issues and priorities. I look forward to broader engagement in late winter and early spring, and at upcoming events like the Spring Municipal Leaders’ Caucus. We’ll communicate regularly through our newsletter and social media accounts. Please feel free to reach out.