The Team
Campaign Cabinet
John P. Barry, KC
Counsel, Cox & Palmer, Saint John
Order of New Brunswick
One of New Brunswick's most experienced lawyers, John Barry was appointed Queen's Counsel in his 11th year of practice in 1977. He is counsel at the Saint John office of Cox & Palmer and has been recognized annually in both Best Lawyers in Canada and the Canadian Legal Expert Directory since both ratings were established.
Throughout his legal career, John has held numerous positions on provincial and national legal committees, including four terms as a Council Member for the Law Society of New Brunswick. He has extensive expertise in civil litigation, administrative law, health law, insurance, and estate and probate law.
A true community leader, John received the Order of New Brunswick and the 2021 Lee Samis Award of Excellence from Canadian Defence Lawyers.
Andrew Beckett
CEO, Envision Saint John: The Regional Growth Agency
Andrew Beckett is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 40 years of experience in senior leadership.
As CEO of Envision Saint John, he leads the Regional Growth Agency's mandate to drive strategic, robust, and sustainable economic growth, attracting visitors, people, business, and investment to the Saint John Region.
Andrew previously served as Commissioner of Finance and Deputy City Manager for the City of Saint John, where he spent 13 years shaping the city's financial policies and practices. He also served as Vice President of Finance Administration at St. Francis Xavier University before joining Envision Saint John.
Jeff McAloon
Co-CEO, The Smart Energy Company
Former President & CEO, Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation
Jeff McAloon is a builder and community leader with a distinguished career in New Brunswick's non-profit and private sectors.
He spent eight years as President & CEO of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation, leading a $12-million capital campaign for the Clinic 1 expansion project.
He is now co-leading The Smart Energy Company, a growing renewable energy firm based in New Brunswick. Jeff has deep ties to the Saint John Theatre Company and the arts community.
Jack Keir
Board Chair, Port Saint John
Former NB Minister of Energy & MLA
Jack Keir is a longtime Saint John and regional leader with experience across government, infrastructure, and economic development.
First elected to the New Brunswick Legislature in 2006, he served as Minister of Energy and later held senior leadership roles with the Province, regional commissions, and the Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority.
Today, as Board Chair of Port Saint John, Jack continues to play a key role in shaping the region’s growth.
His involvement in the Courthouse Stage campaign reflects a strong belief in the importance of cultural infrastructure to a thriving city.
Jennifer Butler
Advisor, Belmont Health and Wealth
Community Volunteer
Jennifer Butler is a Saint John-based professional in the health and wealth advisory sector with Belmont Health and Wealth.
She is an active community volunteer with deep ties to the region, including involvement with the Rothesay-Kings Rotary Club, the Sea Dogs Foundation, and various community health and youth initiatives.
Jennifer brings a spirit of genuine community investment and service to the campaign cabinet.
Robert (Bob) Boyce
Architect, Robert L. Boyce Architect
Heritage Preservation Specialist
Robert Boyce is a Saint John-based architect with a practice rooted in heritage preservation and adaptive reuse.
He has been integral to a number of landmark heritage restoration projects in Saint John, describing the city as having "a rich collection of particularly 19th century buildings" preserved through careful conservation work.
Bob is a past President of the Rotary Club of Saint John (2016–17) and is widely respected for his contribution to Saint John's built heritage.
His involvement in the Courthouse Stage campaign brings exceptional architectural and heritage expertise to the table.
Pauline Cronin
Co-Chair, TIFF Film Circuit Saint John
Arts & Culture Community Leader
Pauline Cronin is an arts advocate and cultural community leader based in Rothesay, New Brunswick.
She is co-chair of TIFF Film Circuit Saint John, which she helped establish in February 2012 out of a passion for quality cinema and cultural access in the region.
Pauline is deeply connected to the Saint John Theatre Company and the Fundy Fringe Festival, and is a member of the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative.
She brings decades of arts leadership and community commitment to the campaign.
Stephen Tobias
Executive Director, Saint John Theatre Company
Stephen Tobias serves as Executive Director of the Saint John Theatre Company, where he provides organizational and strategic leadership for one of Atlantic Canada's leading theatre organizations.
In his role, Stephen oversees the company's operations, programming, and long-term vision — including the Courthouse Stage Capital Campaign, Possibility Unleashed, which aims to transform a historic Saint John courthouse into a world-class home for Atlantic theatre.
Campaign Champions
Senator Jim Quinn
Senator for New Brunswick
Former President & CEO, Port Saint John
Senator Jim Quinn was appointed to the Senate of Canada on June 22, 2021, on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Born and raised in Saint John, he is a graduate of Dalhousie University (BSc) and a Certified Management Accountant (CPA/CMA).
Before his Senate appointment, Jim served as President & CEO of Port Saint John from 2010, where he led a major modernization of the port and stewarded the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic.
His earlier career included 23 years with the Canadian Coast Guard, rising to senior national leadership positions, as well as roles with the Privy Council Office, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and the Canadian International Development Agency.
He has received the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal for his contributions to New Brunswick.
Dr. Sandra Bell
Professor of English, UNB Saint John
Co-Founder, Fundy Fringe Festival
SJTC Board Member
Dr. Sandra Bell is a Professor of Humanities and Languages at the University of New Brunswick's Saint John campus, where she has taught since 2000.
A specialist in 16th and 17th century literature — including Shakespeare — she holds a BA and MA from McMaster University and a PhD from Queen's University. Dr. Bell is the recipient of the 2022 Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching Award, UNB's Allan P. Stuart Award for Excellence in Teaching, and multiple other teaching honours.
She co-founded the Fundy Fringe Festival in 2013 and received the Originals Arts Award: Performing Arts (Theatre) in 2017. She is an active member of the Saint John Theatre Company board and helped forge the partnership between UNB Saint John and SJTC that brings students into live theatre production.
Ann Mowatt
Board Member, Saint John Theatre Company
Ann Mowatt serves as a Board Member of the Saint John Theatre Company and is a champion of the Courthouse Stage Capital Campaign. Ann is a former private sector lawyer and retired federal public servant.
She worked in Ottawa for various departments/agencies and most recently in Moncton as Transport Canada’s Regional Director General, from which she retired in
2022.
Ann is on the Boards of the Turnbull Home and the Saint John Community Food Bank and is a member of the Saint John Community Arts Board.
Her love of theatre has lasted since junior high school, and she is delighted to contribute to the community by serving as a member of the Saint John Theatre Company Board of Directors.
Beth Richardson
Event Coordinator & Board Liaison, Saint John Theatre Company
Beth Richardson is an Event Coordinator and Board Liaison with the Saint John Theatre Company, where she plays an integral role in connecting organizational leadership with the broader community and supporting the company's events and fundraising efforts.
Beth brings hands-on expertise in event management and relationship stewardship to the Courthouse Stage campaign. For over 22 years Beth has been applying her creative and organizational skills in the event and hospitality industries as owner of event planning company Pretzel Productions.
With a degree in Theatrical Design and English Literature, her background includes experience in both amateur and professional theatre including set, lighting and costume design, music and performing arts tour planning and management, festival development, and stage management.
Beth is currently a Board member of the Saint John Theatre Company and is a member of both PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) and CanSPEP (Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners).
Brent McGovern
Chief Operating Officer, Port Saint John
Former CAO, City of Saint John
Brent McGovern was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Port Saint John in January 2026, joining after a distinguished 20+ year career with the City of Saint John, where he served most recently as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
Under his leadership as CAO, the City advanced major development projects and delivered the $225-million Safe, Clean Drinking Water Project — the largest municipal infrastructure initiative in New Brunswick's history, completed on time and under budget.
McGovern holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of New Brunswick and has also held senior private sector roles, including with Suez
Environment in Los Angeles.
He is a recognized community leader and advocate for Saint John's long-term growth.
Robyn Tingley ONB
Founder & President, GlassSKY Inc.
Order of New Brunswick
Robyn Tingley is a speaker, author, and award-winning communications strategist who helps executive leaders drive higher organizational performance.
Born and raised in Campbellton, she spent years working internationally as a corporate HR and Communications executive for a Fortune 100 company across four continents before returning to New Brunswick to found GlassSKY Inc. in 2015. GlassSKY serves blue chip clients and governments with strategic communications, research, creative design, and diversity and inclusion programs.
Robyn served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of New Brunswick and is immediate past Chair of the Board. In 2019, she was invested in the Order of New Brunswick for corporate and community leadership and advancing gender equality.
She has been named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN, one of 20 Most Influential Women in California by the California Diversity Council, and co-founded Women for 50%, an initiative focused on increasing female representation in the New Brunswick Legislature.