Andrea Johnston

Andrea Johnston

Associate

Andrea Johnston is a senior executive and strategic advisor with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of innovation policy, government relations, and economic development. Most recently, she served as Assistant Deputy Minister  of Innovation Canada at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, where she led the design and delivery of landmark programs including the Strategic Innovation Fund, the Canadian Digital Adoption Program, the Superclusters and Canada’s Hypergrowth Project. 

Andrea is known for building high-performing, inclusive teams and for her ability to navigate complex policy and operational environments at the federal level. She has worked closely with entrepreneurs, SMEs, and anchor firms to help them access capital, scale their businesses, and compete globally. She currently serves as an Executive Advisor at North Guide and Signa Strategies.

A committed champion of people-centred leadership, Andrea has embedded values, ethics, and inclusion at the heart of her work throughout her career. She served as ISED’s Champion for Diversity and Inclusion Employees’ Networks, providing strategic direction to eight grassroots employee networks, and as the department’s Values and Ethics Champion.

An active board director, Andrea serves on the boards of the Ottawa YMCA and the Global Institute for Food Security.