Dana Mackie, MBA '18

Dana Mackie, MBA ‘18, recently stepped into the role of CEO at Alberta Municipalities, but his path to leadership has been decades in the making. With over 30 years of experience spanning the hospitality sector and senior leadership roles with Alberta’s public service, Dana has built a career rooted in advocacy, economic development and policy leadership.

Known for his collaborative approach, he has spent years connecting with local leaders, understanding the unique needs of Alberta’s communities, and championing initiatives that drive meaningful progress. Now, as CEO, Dana is focused on strengthening municipalities, fostering partnerships and shaping a future where Alberta’s communities continue to thrive.

Can you share a bit about your career journey that led you to becoming the CEO of Alberta Municipalities?

I have a varied professional background that includes 15 years in the hospitality sector and 19 years with Alberta’s public service. My professional roles have embedded a deeply client-focused and service-oriented mindset which, I believe, positions me well to serve Alberta Municipalities’ (ABmunis) members.

Within the public service, I have over a decade of advocacy and negotiations experience which aligns well with Alberta Municipalities’ long-term approach to relationship management and contributing to productive public policy. What most prepared me for this role are the varied experiences I had within the provincial public service. This includes executive experiences across different sectors: intergovernmental relations, environmental management, economic development, post-secondary education and social services. Within these sectors I held a number of corporate and governance roles, managed large and complex operations portfolios and led complex public policy work.

What excites you the most about joining Alberta Municipalities at this stage of your career?

I am excited to develop relationships with local leaders and gain additional perspectives and insights into the communities of our beautiful province. This role will deepen my knowledge of the tangible and practical issues challenging our members every day and position me to support them in their work.

What’s the most surprising lesson you’ve learned in your first few days as CEO?

A CEO transition is a significant matter for an organization and it’s important to recognize that a large group of people wants to ensure your success. It is highly impactful for an organization to have a comprehensive transition plan in place for new executive leadership. ABmunis has done a terrific job preparing for this transition which has enabled me to start with confidence and hit the ground running.

How do you stay steadfast in your leadership, ensuring your vision remains clear and fulfilled over time?

I take a collaborative and iterative approach in strategy development. I believe this builds shared ownership in vision, strategy and all the associated tactics required to achieve business outcomes. Shared ownership leads to sustainability and aligns with lessons I learned early in my career that to ‘go far’ you need to ‘go together.’

How do you approach leading an organization that serves diverse communities and stakeholders?

ABmunis is the voice of those municipalities in which 85 per cent of Albertans reside: summer villages, villages, towns and cities. We thoughtfully consider the needs, wants and aspirations of our 260 member communities and advocate on their behalf to the provincial and federal governments. In my view, active listening and authentic engagement are the keys to successfully serving a diverse member-based organization. On top of that intent, a robust set of policy development procedures and appropriate governance mechanisms are critical.

Are there particular sectors or organizations you’re eager to collaborate with?

For years, ABmunis has demonstrated its commitment to community-building organizations, and it will continue to put its resources into this critical area. So, we are very well positioned to greatly expand our relationships with the non-profit sector. The success of the non-profit sector is a fundamental ingredient to strong and vibrant communities. We are excited to provide our non-profit partners with competitive and highly effective employee benefit programs, insurance, retirement services and retail energy products, and to continue our strong advocacy for increased funding in the sector.

How did an MBA shape your leadership approach and prepare you for the challenges?

The University of Alberta’s MBA program was a fantastic fit for me and equipped me with the skills and knowledge my new role demands. I followed the public policy management stream within the MBA which allowed me to acquire all the critical business fundamentals and to learn how they do (and sometimes don’t) translate into the public sector.

As Alberta’s largest municipal association, ABmunis is a wonderful hybrid organization that serves public sector leaders and provides a comprehensive line of interrelated services and businesses that support our members. The role demands both my public sector experience and a strong business background which the U of A helped me acquire.