Alumni Roundtable: Judge and inspirationalist

Andrea Paine, BA (journ. & poli. sci.) 95, lives by these words by Christy Borgeld: “Never giving up and pushing forward will unlock all the potential we are capable of.” She has put that to the test in many different situations during her career, which includes work at the most senior federal and provincial government levels, as well as being a candidate in three federal elections and managing election campaigns.

After graduating from Concordia, she studied civil law at Universite Laval. She began her career at the provincial level as policy advisor, and later as director of communications to a senior cabinet minister. In a career that took her to Quebec City and Montreal, she set her sights on Ottawa over 12 years ago, and has served in various capacities including chief of staff, senior legislative and parliamentary advisor, policy expert and issues management specialist. Andrea was named as Citizenship Judge in 2013, and has since been working in Montreal.

A gifted writer, Andrea has penned speeches for cabinet Ministers and members of the National Assembly and of Parliament throughout her years in politics. More recently, she turned her talents to writing an inspirational blog found at lifepowerblog.ca, and is a published author. Andrea has also been involved in public speaking, having been on the speaker's circuit on behalf of the St-Mary's Hospital breast cancer foundation in 2011, as well as a presenter for the Federated Press Annual Conference on "Working with Ministers and Parliament" in Ottawa.