Randy Dawson

Randy Dawson brings over 40 years of experience to the position of managing principal at Navigator, covering a wide variety of issues in both government and business. Randy serves clients across Canada, providing strategic counsel to senior corporate and political leaders with regard to issue and reputation management in both the private and public sectors. He is also a leading expert in research driven activation and persuasion campaigns.

Randy served as senior advisor to Alberta’s minister of finance, and as chief of staff to Canada’s minister of constitutional affairs. While serving as the minister of finance’s primary liaison with ministry officials, Randy attended treasury board meetings and directed the preparation for the Alberta’s annual budget, including the communication strategy. Due to the regular interaction with other key economic portfolios, Randy also gained particular expertise in developing cross ministerial policy and negotiating agreements with the private sector.

Some of his most notable experiences include managing Alberta’s response to the Principal Group inquiry, participating in both stages of the privatization of Telus, and taking the lead in the province’s negotiations of five public sector pension plans. During his time working for the minister of constitutional affairs, he was involved in negotiating P.E.I’s “fixed link” constitutional amendment.

After service in government, Randy shifted his attention to the private sector. He established Alberta Spirits Inc. in Canmore, turning it into one of the top specialty retail liquor stores in the province, and ultimately selling it to the largest liquor store chain in Alberta. By starting and running a successful company, he gained hands-on experience in business management, entrepreneurship and staff management.

Never straying far from the world of politics, Randy assisted Jean Charest with his campaign in 1993, ran Jim Prentice’s national leadership campaign in 2003, and served as an Alberta PC campaign manager in 2008. In 2012 he was a strategic advisor to Premier Alison Redford’s majority victory campaign team. Randy has gained significant experience in over 35 campaigns in his 40 plus years of political involvement.

In addition to his extensive experience in government and managing campaigns, Randy has substantive expertise in issue management, crisis response and reputation recovery. He has worked with major national and international firms across a wide range of industries, including liquor, renewable and non-renewable energy and technology.

Randy has provided pro-bono support to Rainbow Railroad and the 519 Community Centre in Toronto, and assisted Navigator's team with the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta. Outside of work, he has a passion for reading and travel.