Assistant Deputy Minister, Partnerships & Community Renewal
Arlene Paton

Arlene has worked for the provincial government in Victoria since 1988, starting at Treasury Board Staff in the Ministry of Finance. Moving to the Ministry of Advanced Education in 1997, she became a Director in the Post Secondary Education Division in June 1999.

Arlene was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, Post Secondary Education Division in October 2004. She was accountable for providing leadership to the public provincial post-secondary education system and liaison with the Industry Training Authority, and more than 1,000 private institutions.

In 2005, Arlene took up the post of Assistant Deputy Minister, Partnerships and Community Renewal within the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. In this position, Arlene is tasked with initiatives aimed at closing the social and economic gaps existing between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal British Columbians.

Arlene holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University.