Andrea Johnston is a seasoned executive leader with a career dedicated to advancing innovation through public policy.

From 2018 to 2025, she served as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Innovation Canada at Innovation, Science, and Economic Development where she led a flagship single-window organization for Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs seeking government programs and services, including the Strategic Innovation Fund, Global Innovation Clusters, Canadian Digital Adoption Fund, Innovative Solutions Canada and the Accelerated Growth Service.

In addition, Andrea was the executive lead for Canada’s Economic Strategy Tables, a new model of collaboration between industry and government focused on turning Canadian economic strengths into global advantages. Prior to that, Andrea was a senior executive at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada where she worked closely with ag industry leaders in driving innovation and competitiveness in the sector. Andrea is currently an executive advisor to several organizations, including Mitacs and NorthGuide.

Recognized as a high-impact leader, Andrea is known for driving organizational innovation and empowering teams to excel. With a commitment to supporting local communities, Andrea is on the Board of Directors of the National Capital Region YMCA and the Ottawa chapter of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.