Ryan Benson

Background

About Ryan Benson

I’m an agile change agent with a passion for emergency preparedness and response solutioneering, helping public sector leaders and organizations to not merely navigate crises and challenges but brew lemonade from lemons. My approach- attack wicked problems with innovative and impactful approaches, blending strategic insight with operational awareness- inform, engage and empower partners, stakeholders and communities on issues they care about- provide decision-makers with realistic options to manage critical deliverables. 20+ years of progressive experience in federal strategy and policy development, stakeholder and Indigenous engagement and public relations. Specialization in emergency management leadership informed by extensive operational and instructional background. Highlights include assignments with provincial and municipal agencies, Ministerial liaison and executive advisory roles, and selection for competitive leadership and development programs (Canada's Free Agents, Management Trainee Program). Bilingual EN/FR. Secret clearance- What are public servants? Think farmers - growing solutions to public issues. The years are long but the days are short. And while conditions are challenging, our consumers - the public and stakeholders - don't care about our political droughts and floods, or our silos and lingo. They just want good food on the table at a fair price: a system which understands their challenges, develops responsive solutions, explains them simply and ensures value for tax dollars. Helping decision makers understand those needs is my bread and butter: building relationships with stakeholders and partners to give them a voice, bringing it to the table to help innovate solutions, providing management with creative approaches and fearless advice, and distilling their complex visions into approachable sound bites. Plus some career side dishes in emergency response; because crises happen anywhere, anytime. Just don't ask me to drive a tractor.