With a strong reputation in social and political justice, York University has seen many of its grads find success in a wide range of public service roles. This includes Patrick Monahan (LLB ’80), deputy attorney general of Ontario, Derek Lett (BA ’91), provincial conflict of interest commissioner, and even the late Jim Flaherty (LLB ’73), former federal minister of finance.
Steve Orsini (MES '86)
This past July, another of York’s outstanding grads joined the ranks of these prominent alumni with a new role in the Ontario government. Alumnus Steve Orsini (MES ’86) was appointed by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to head the Ontario Public Service as secretary of the cabinet and clerk of the executive council.
“On behalf of his alma mater, I would like to congratulate Steve Orsini on this distinguished appointment,” Mamdouh Shoukri, York’s president and vice-chancellor, shared. “We at York take great pride in Steve’s record of public service and ongoing accomplishments. His work in the Ministry of Finance, where he served alongside Chancellor Greg Sorbara, and his prior experience in other areas of public policy, will be of tremendous benefit to the province as he exercises leadership from the Office of Secretary of the Cabinet. We look forward to working with him in his new role.”
As a relative newcomer, Orsini’s experience with public service is impressive. Since December 2011, he has served as the deputy minister of finance and secretary of the Treasury Board, where he has played a leading role in supporting the government’s tax, benefits and pension reform agenda over the past few years. Prior to that, he served as deputy minister of revenue and deputy minister of taxation, agencies and pensions in the Ministry of Finance.
In addition, Orsini has also worked in the former Ministry of Treasury and Economics, the Service Sector Secretariat, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Ontario Development Corporation. He has even held several positions at the Ontario Hospital Association, including vice-president of policy and public affairs.
Orsini graduated with a master in environmental studies (MES) in economic development from York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies in 1986. He has also completed the Canadian Securities Course, two years of the CICA In-Depth Tax Course and the Harvard University Health Care Leadership Program.