Council members
The Institute of Skilled Trades is governed by an industry-led Council. Members include:
Owner, L.E. Cruickshanks Sheet Metal, LTD
Heather is an owner of L.E. Cruickshanks Sheet Metal Ltd. and has been actively involved in the construction industry for more than 40 years.
Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for the skilled trades and the development of apprenticeship opportunities.
Heather served as a board member of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency from 2014 to 2022 and is honored to be a member of the Council of the Institute of Skilled Trades. She is committed to supporting the growth and future of Apprentices across all sectors.
Vice President, Fixed Operations, O'Regan's Automotive Group
Motive power representative
Tim serves as Vice President of Fixed Operations for the O’Regan’s Automotive Group where he works with many apprentices in AST as well as Collision Repair.
Tim was an active board member of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency from 2015 through to 2022 and served as a Trustee for the Apprentice Award Trust for several years.
He is very excited to contribute to the Institute of Skilled Trades and drive forward the success of Apprentices and Tradespeople from all sectors.
Executive Director, Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades
Construction representative
Alison Casey joined the Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades Council as Manager, Marketing and Communications in December 2013. In May 2025, she was appointed the Council’s second ever Executive Director.
Alison started her career in Economic Development and has decades of experience in leading marketing initiatives, project management, and strategic leadership. Over the past 12 years, she’s taken great pride in raising the Council’s profile and telling the story of organized labour.
Alison is committed to driving the continued growth of the unionized construction sector. Throughout her career, Alison has been passionate about workforce development including training and connecting workers to jobs. Alison is pleased to sit on the inaugural Institute of Skilled Trades Council and looks forward to working with the Nova Scotia Community College, government and industry on aligning construction trades programming with industry need.
Regional Director, Cape Breton, Lindsay Construction
Construction representative
With over 30 years of experience in Nova Scotia's construction sector, Howie Doiron is a well-respected leader and community advocate. As Regional Director for Cape Breton at Lindsay Construction, based in Sydney, Howie is known for overseeing complex projects with a practical, people-first approach.
Howie was introduced to the trades by his father, a skilled carpenter and Superintendent. After earning a Carpentry diploma from Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Strait Area Campus in 1993 and achieving his Red Seal certification in 1997, Howie's career has been defined by hands-on leadership and a commitment to mentorship.
Howie holds the Professional Gold Seal Certified (P.GSC) designation from the Canadian Construction Association and has completed various leadership certificates. His dedication to community and education is evident in his long-standing relationship with the Nova Scotia Community College, where he served on the Board of Governors and is currently on the NSCC Foundation’s board.
In recognition of his contributions, Howie received the Service Award in the "Giving Back to NSCC" category at the inaugural NSCC Alumni Awards in 2025 and "The Employer Champion Award" from the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.
Additionally, Howie serves on the boards of the Cape Breton Partnership and the Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association. Known for his generosity and hands-on leadership, he actively supports charitable initiatives like the Coats for Kids Campaign, consistently seeking opportunities to give back to his community through volunteer work and mentorship.
President, IronDog Mechanical Services
Construction representative
Gord Gamble is an owner and the President of IronDog Mechanical Services, a mechanical contracting company providing heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical services in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Gord has led the organization through a period of rapid growth since he and his business partners acquired Metro Burner Services in 2016, which they rebranded to IronDog. The growth of IronDog, from a 15 person company to a 75 person organization has been driven by the hiring and mentoring of many NSCC skilled trades apprentices.
Gord has been a business owner for many years having owned and operated businesses in commercial printing, graphic design, and welding sales and service. He is passionate about his team members and his clients.
Gord feels the opportunity to be a member of the IST Council and to contribute to the vision of making Nova Scotia a world leader in skilled trades development is a true honor and he looks forward to tackling the challenge with all members of the Council.
Team Lead, Apprenticeship, Irving Shipbuilding
Industrial and manufacturing representative
Beth Hill is the Team Lead for Apprenticeship at Irving Shipbuilding, where she supports apprentices as they move through their training and build their careers in marine trades. Originally from Scotland, Beth has spent the past decade working in Human Resources and Recruitment, focusing on inclusion, workforce development, and helping people find meaningful pathways into skilled trades careers.
Over the last few years, she has been deeply involved in supporting apprentices on their shipbuilding journey. Beth is passionate about helping people grow, build confidence, and feel a strong sense of belonging in their trade. She believes that the Red Seal Certification should be achievable for anyone willing to commit to learning their craft, and she works hard to make sure apprentices have the tools, guidance, and support they need to get there.
As a member of the NSCC Institute of Trades Council, Beth is dedicated to strengthening training pathways across the province. She is committed to creating more opportunities for underrepresented groups, improving access to high quality training, and helping build a future ready workforce. Her approach is rooted in mentorship, fairness, and continuous improvement and in making sure apprentices feel supported every step of the way.
Senior VP, Manufacturing, The Shaw Group
Industrial and manufacturing representative
Jeff is the Senior VP of Manufacturing for the Shaw Group, running 8 Divisions within Shaw. Previous to joining the Shaw Group, he was President of Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.
Jeff’s full-time working career began in 1988 and he has served for over 30 years in manufacturing and leadership positions in Nova Scotia and internationally. He returned from France to Canada in 2005.
MacLean is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University where he earned a B.SC. and the Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie University), where he completed his engineering degree.
Jeff loves outdoor activities, including fishing and mountain biking, and continues to be an active volunteer who is known for coaching youth sports and has been involved on many Boards, including the chair of Nova Scotia Business Inc and the Special Olympics of Nova Scotia where he remains a keen supporter.
Jeff believes that the NSCC is an outstanding institution that helps Nova Scotians grow to their potential and is also an important competitive advantage for Nova Scotia as we compete on the world stage. Jeff believes there is always room for continuous improvement and is excited to help the NSCC take its next growth steps.
VP, People and Culture, Steele Auto Group
Motive power representative
Ruth Meagher is Vice President of People and Culture at Steele Auto Group, one of the province’s largest employers of Automotive Service Technician (AST), Collision Repair, and Truck and Transport Repair apprentices. She has over twenty years' experience in people and culture leadership, focusing on workforce development, organizational culture, and talent sustainability with an employee-experience approach.
Ruth oversees programs designed to remove barriers to apprentice progression and create clearer pathways to success. Through innovative supports and intentional development opportunities, she helps ensure apprentices gain the skills, mentorship, and hands on experience required to thrive. Having previously contributed to a Minister’s Panel on Pre Apprenticeship, Ruth brings an informed and valued perspective to apprenticeship programming. She holds a firm belief that sustained investment in people is essential to the long term vitality of the skilled trades and Nova Scotia’s economic future.
Ruth is honored to serve as an inaugural member of the Industry Sector Training (IST) Council, working strategically alongside partners within government, NSCC, and industry sectors to help shape industry-aligned apprenticeship training and clear, accessible pathways that strengthen apprenticeship outcomes within workplaces across the province.
Owner, Monk Renovations
Construction representative
Dan has been working in the construction industry since his first job at 15 years old (40 plus years) building and renovating homes, working in sawmill mills or running heavy equipment, building bridges, remediating contaminated sites and loving every minute. Having a passion for what you do is the key to success and Dan is passionate about his business and the construction industry.
Dan is a graduate of Saint Francis Xavier University (1990) and Dalhousie University (1993) with a degree in civil engineering. In 2015, Dan achieved his Interprovincial Red Seal in Carpentry, making him a unique blend of “blue and white” collar professional. Dan understands what is required technically and physically to build and renovate, it is something he has built into every aspect of his company, MONK Renovation’s, process.
Dan has always enjoyed relationships, working for a common goal, building a team and being part of a team. He appreciates using my skills as an engineer, carpenter and entrepreneur and developing the skills of other partners, to provide solutions in the construction industry. Dan believes the world revolves around relationships, from big cities to small towns, everyone wants and needs relationships and this is how leadership can change our industry.
Chief Culinary Officer, Saffron Hill Hospitality Group
Service representative
Dana is the Chief Culinary Officer for Saffron Hill Hospitality Group. He joined Shannex in 1998 as Executive Chef of Parkland Clayton Park and went on to spend the next 27 years with the organization, dedicated to advancing care and service excellence for residents and their families across its portfolio of residences. During this time, Dana provided strategic leadership for Shannex’s culinary vision, guiding and supporting culinary teams to deliver exceptional dining experiences company wide. He is deeply committed to incorporating locally sourced ingredients into residents’ meals, enhancing both quality and meaningful connections to local communities.
Throughout his tenure with Shannex, Dana held numerous senior leadership roles across both the Culinary and Procurement divisions. He played a key role in the opening of every Shannex residence currently in operation, contributing operational expertise and culinary leadership to each launch. Prior to joining Shannex, Dana built his culinary foundation working in management roles with several upscale restaurant groups.
In 2025, Dana transitioned from Shannex to Saffron Hill Hospitality Group, an organization specializing in meal services for long term care and healthcare environments. Shannex Enhanced Care and Parkland Retirement Living are primary customers of Saffron Hill Hospitality Group. In 2026, Saffron Hill will introduce three new public facing dining concepts: Saffron Hill Ristorante, Sidecar, and The Grand Café at Bloomsbury.
Dana is a graduate of the NSCC Culinary Arts Program (1993) and completed the Executive Leadership Program at the Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University (2015).
President & CEO, Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS)
Construction representative
Duncan Williams has served as President & CEO of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) since January 2011. Prior to joining CANS, he held senior and executive level positions with CNIB in both Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Duncan has a long record of governance leadership. He was appointed Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for Construction Safety Nova Scotia in 2018 and became Chair in 2025. He has chaired Nova Scotia’s Technical Safety Advisory Board since 2023 and serves on the Local Construction Associations Council of the Canadian Construction Association. From 2015 to 2024, he was a member of the Board of Directors for the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia.
He has contributed to numerous committees, working groups, boards and ministerial panels, and has taught and developed courses at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health.
Duncan holds a master’s degree from Dalhousie University and a bachelor’s from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He also earned the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors through the Rotman School of Business.
Drawing on more than 35 years of lived experience with vision loss, Duncan has been a dedicated advocate for persons with disabilities, championing accessibility and equity across sectors.
In his work with the Institute of Skilled Trades (IST), he aims to help build a modern, robust training system that is nimble, proactive and closely aligned with industry needs. His focus is on ensuring learners graduate with exceptional, job-ready skills and on supporting a skilled, adaptable workforce prepared to meet the needs of employers and the provincial economy.
Board Chair, Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency
Trent Soholt is the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council-ICI (NSCSC) - a not-for-profit organization that serves as the industry's help desk, connecting job seekers with opportunities, conducting research, facilitating training, providing administrative support, and promoting construction trades and management occupations through various programs and initiatives.
Trent is an internationally certified Project Management Professional with over 25 years of Project Management experience. He is the Chair of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency; Past Chair of the Association of Industry Sector Councils; Director for the Technical Safety Board; instructor of supervisory and management skills; and is involved with many industry and government committees. Trent believes skilled trades, apprenticeship and the construction sector have a fundamental role in the prosperity of Nova Scotia and Canada.
NSCC Acting President
As Acting President of NSCC, Anna Burke serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the operation of 14 campuses, with over 140 programs, and approximately 22,000 students and 2,000 employees. Anna joined NSCC in 2002 as a Research Analyst, working on projects in planning and transformation. Since then, she’s held progressively senior roles within the College. She’s served on the Executive team since 2014, overseeing several vice-presidential portfolios including Academic, Enrolment and College Services and Strategy.
Anna has devoted her career to advancing teaching, learning and leadership and has been involved in many regional and national initiatives to strengthen the College sector. She served as Faculty for the Colleges and Institutes Canada Leadership Institute for Managers and Chairs for several years, up to 2024, and is currently on the Interuniversity Services Incorporated Board of Directors. Her leadership style is defined by empowerment, collaboration and innovation. Anna inspires individuals and teams to strive for excellence and champions continuous improvement in organizational performance, academic quality and student success.
CEO, Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency
Michelle Bussey has spent her career promoting and supporting the skilled trades locally, nationally and internationally. With expertise in capacity building, industry and community engagement, Michelle brings strong leadership to the Institute of Skilled Trades Council.
Over the past 25+ years, Michelle has held senior leadership roles in Skills Canada-Nova Scotia, WorldSkills International, the Nova Scotia Community College and now as CEO of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA).
As CEO, she brings industry, apprentices, training providers, Government, the Apprenticeship Board, the NSAA team, its clients and partners together to modernize the apprenticeship and trades certification system. The goal is to make the entire system more efficient, inclusive, accessible and responsive for employers and apprentices. All in an effort to meet the labour market needs of the province so that people, the economy and communities can thrive.
With a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Saint Vincent University and a Masters of Public Administration from Dalhousie University, Michelle believes strongly in lifelong learning. In keeping with this philosophy, she gives back as a Board member for the YMCA Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, Skills Canada-Nova Scotia, and the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. She also volunteers for the PREP Academy. Recently, she was just appointed as Vice Chair of the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship.
Michelle believes in focusing on and communicating the big picture and individual’s role in getting there so that everyone is working towards the same goals. With strong relationship building skills, it’s about listening, learning and responding.
Deputy Minister, Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
Ryan Grant is currently the Deputy Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration, appointed in December 2024. Prior to that he was Deputy Minister of Advanced Education since September 2023.
Ryan has a Bachelor of Science (Economics) from Dalhousie University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom (UK). He has also earned an executive certificate in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Ryan’s recent professional experience includes market research as a Senior Analyst at Thinkwell Research from 2009-2013. He then was employed by the Office of the Premier of Nova Scotia from 2013-2018 where he held positions including Senior Policy Advisor, Deputy Chief of Staff, and finally the Chief of Staff.
He then moved to Deloitte Inc., Canada where, from 2019-2020, he was the Manager of Consulting, Strategy and Operation. He then joined the public service in 2020 in the Department of Finance and Treasury Board as the Executive Director of the Treasury Board Office until 2023.