Portfolio
Deputy Minister to the Premier
Deputy Minister of Communications Nova Scotia
Clerk of / Secretary to the Executive Council
Education
Mr. Fowler graduated with a Bachelor of Art (cum laude) in Sociology and English from St. Mary’s University in 1972.
Employment History
Mr. Robert Fowler has been the Deputy Minister, Office of the Premier, Head of the Public Service, and CEO of Communications Nova Scotia since September, 2006. In February 2007, the position of Clerk/Secretary of the Executive Council was added to his portfolio. During this time he also served as Deputy Minister of Treasury and Policy Board.
Mr. Fowler has spent more than 30 years in public service, the majority in the Nova Scotia Civil Service. Prior to his most recent appointments, Mr. Fowler was Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for over two years, and also served for a time as Deputy Minister of Immigration, and Deputy Minister of the Department of Health Promotion and Protection.
Immediately prior to his appointment as Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Fowler was in the middle of a three-year executive interchange with the Federal Public Service as Regional Director General, Health Canada Atlantic Region, responsible for program delivery and Pan Atlantic liaison for the four Atlantic Provinces.
From September 2001 until February 2003, Mr. Fowler was the CEO/Deputy Head of the Provincial Agency responsible for organizing and leading the province's partnership and community engagement activities related to the clean-up of the Sydney Tar Ponds Coke Ovens.
From September 1994 to September 2001, Mr. Fowler had assignments as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Departments of Economic Development and Tourism followed by the Department of Community Services as well as Senior Executive Director of Operations and Regional Support in the Department of Health at the time of the implementation of the Regional Health Boards.
Mr. Fowler began his career in the Nova Scotia Public Service in December 1975 as a Rent Review Officer and subsequently held progressively more senior management positions in the Departments of Consumer Affairs and the Management Board/Treasury Board.
Mr. Fowler is a passionate believer in the values and ethics of a professional Public Service which strives for excellence in its service to Nova Scotians and respect and development of its greatest assets our employees.
Family
Mr. Fowler has been happily married for over 35 years. He and his wife, Paulette are the proud parents of two adult children, both graduates of Saint Mary's University. Bob and Paulette are long time residents of Halifax.
