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Paula Mackinnon

@paulamackinnon

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Experienced policy and adjudication professional specializing in government services.

Canada

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What I'm looking for

I am seeking a senior- or mid-level government role where I can apply adjudication, policy development, and dispute-resolution skills within a collaborative, service-focused public sector team.

I am an experienced government policy and adjudication professional with a background in law, public administration, and alternative dispute resolution. I have worked across Veterans Affairs Canada, the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman, provincial government, and federal departments, applying legislation and policy to complex casework and program issues.

My strengths include legal research and analysis, claims adjudication, policy development, and stakeholder engagement; I have adjudicated disability benefit applications, developed policies and briefing materials, and investigated complaints while maintaining privacy and administrative fairness. I bring proven skills in file management, mediation, interviewing, and working both independently and within interdisciplinary teams.

I am adept with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint), document databases, GroupWise and legal research tools, and I hold formal training in negotiation and mediation as well as a Reliability Status security clearance with the Government of Canada.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Benefits Program Officer

Veterans Affairs Canada

Oct 2020 - Dec 2023 (3 years 2 months)

Adjudicated client disability benefit applications per legislation and policy, managed file progress through client contact, and maintained privacy compliance while handling an independent hybrid workload.

Case Management Privacy & Compliance Client Communication Document Management Microsoft Office

Senior Policy Analyst

Veterans Affairs Canada

Aug 2019 - Apr 2020 (8 months)

Developed policies, briefing materials, strategic plans and business cases; conducted research and analysis and provided advice on complex legislative and policy issues affecting the department.

Policy Development Research Analysis Briefings Strategic Planning Written Communication

Intervention Officer

Office of the Veterans Ombudsman

Aug 2018 - Aug 2019 (1 year)

Investigated complaints objectively and facilitated resolutions at the lowest level, managed high caseloads, and provided advice on VAC programs, policies and alternative redress mechanisms.

Investigation Case Management Stakeholder Engagement Report Writing Client Advocacy

Base Operations Officer

Department of National Defence

Jan 2018 - Dec 2018 (11 months)

Applied internal policies and regulations to manage real property and parking administration, supervised enforcement personnel, liaised with departments and provided policy enforcement decisions and appeals responses.

Enforcement Property Management Supervision Regulatory Compliance Liaison Appeals Written Communication Stakeholder Engagement

Regulatory Analyst/Researcher

Province of Prince Edward Island

Reviewed and analyzed provincial legislation and regulations, prepared reports and legislative proposals for senior management, and managed projects with stakeholders including RCMP and legislative counsel.

Legislative Analysis Project Management Report Writing Policy Recommendations Consultation

Senior Communications Advisor

Veterans Affairs Canada

Provided strategic communications support to senior VAC officials, developed communication strategies, speeches, briefing notes and online content, and managed projects to support departmental initiatives.

Communications Strategy Speechwriting Briefings Project Management Content Development Media Relations

Litigation Consultant

Merrill Lynch Canada

Reviewed client accounts and financial records for litigation matters, prepared memos and reports for senior management and provided direction to external counsel on litigation and compliance issues.

Litigation Support Legal Research Report Writing Client Communication Compliance Analysis