Employee spotlight – Amber Campbell
Meet Amber Campbell, Manager, Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives at PrairiesCan
Amber Campbell is a driving force behind some of PrairiesCan’s most impactful regional initiatives—work that is helping shape a more inclusive, resilient, and innovative Prairie economy. A proud Calgarian with over two decades of federal public service experience, Amber has spent the last six years at PrairiesCan building strong partnerships, advancing strategic priorities, and championing projects that directly benefit communities across Alberta.
Now serving as Manager of Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives in Calgary, Alberta, she leads a diverse portfolio that includes the Prairies Business Service Network, the Tourism Growth Program, and other initiatives. “The opportunities that I have had to work with a variety of different teams and units at PrairiesCan have been invaluable,” she shares—an experience that speaks to both her versatility and the deep value she brings to the department’s mission.
A career sparked by curiosity
Amber’s journey into public service began with a serendipitous moment—spotting a poster on her university’s co-op job board. “I started my journey with the federal government 23 years ago when I was hired as a student researcher at the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa,” she recalls. That opportunity turned out to be life-changing. “That first step opened an entire suite of career opportunities for me that I would have not otherwise known about as a young undergrad student in Calgary.”
After a year working in various federal departments in Ottawa, Amber was hooked. “I had met amazing people, learned from inspiring colleagues, contributed to exciting and important work that aligned with my personal values and ethics, and advanced my own personal identity as a proud Canadian. This foundational experience sparked my dream of pursuing a career as a federal public servant—and I’ve never looked back.”
Turning policy into progress
From historic infrastructure investments to cutting-edge health innovations, Amber has played a key role in advancing some of PrairiesCan’s most transformative initiatives. One of her proudest contributions includes a landmark federal-provincial partnership to enhance connectivity and trade corridors in Churchill, Manitoba—a project with long-lasting benefits for the region and Canada. She also helped shape the department’s largest investment to date, the Canadian Critical Drug Initiative, which is bolstering Alberta’s biomedical sector and boosting the domestic production of life-saving medicines. “These initiatives have enabled me to operationalize PrairiesCan’s various priorities while working with colleagues from across the country to strengthen communities, economic opportunities, and collaboration across the Prairies,” she says.
Additionally, Amber recently led the development of two key projects to support Jasper’s recovery following the devastating Jasper Wildfire Complex, which provide direct support to local small businesses and the tourism industry to support Jasper’s long-term economic resilience. Finally, leading the Tourism Growth Program in Alberta has been one of her favorite undertakings to date. “There are amazing growth opportunities here for small businesses and Canada’s broader tourism sector, from authentic Indigenous experiences to dinosaur expeditions to glamping domes in the mountains and more,” Amber explains.
Amber’s career advice
To those considering a public service or economic development career, Amber encourages curiosity and connection. “Build authentic relationships within your network and your teams, stay open-minded, and always jump at opportunities that arise—even the ones you least expect.”
What Amber likes most about PrairiesCan
For Amber, PrairiesCan provides the opportunity to make a meaningful impact—right at home. “I am grateful to work alongside fabulous colleagues and incredible regional partners to make impactful contributions in my home province,” she says. “I feel very lucky to have grown my career with the federal government—outside of Ottawa—in my home city and province.” PrairiesCan’s regional lens is what sets the department apart for Amber. “We are always working to leverage regional and pan-Prairie strengths and help entrepreneurs, innovators and underrepresented groups across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba,” she explains. Whether it’s advocating for Prairie interests in Ottawa or convening key partners on the ground, Amber sees PrairiesCan as “a unique department within the federal family with an important commitment to supporting Prairie Canadians.”
Amber, beyond the office
Outside of work, Amber embraces every season with open arms. She’s made a personal commitment to do something active outdoors every single day of the year—no matter the weather. “It’s amazing what a deep breath of fresh air can do for your mind, body and spirit, even if it's 30 below.”
Whether she’s paddleboarding, hiking, birding, or cross-country skiing, Amber’s happiest exploring nature with her husband, two daughters, and their cat Nellie—named in honour of Canadian suffragette Nellie McClung.