2006 - Keray Henke

Keray Henke

KERAY HENKE was born in January, 1951, to Doris and Heinz Henke of Donalda, Alberta and grew up on the farm. He has one sister, Kay, who is an electronics technologist with the Regional Health Authority in Lethbridge.

He attended the Donalda School for grades 1 to 11, and was presented the Governor General's medal for his achievements on Grade 9 departmental examinations. For his grade twelve, Keray attended the Wm. E. Hay Composite High School graduating in 1969. He received the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship and the Fruehauf Trailer Company Scholarship for his academic achievements in that year. Keray registered at the University of Manitoba for his first year of university and later transferred to the University of Alberta in Edmonton where he completed his Bachelor of Commerce, with distinction, in 1974.

He has two sons; Aaron, born in 1974 and Joseph, born in 1981.

Keray started work with the federal government in 1974, then joined the Provincial civil service in January, 1980, as a policy analyst with Alberta Treasury (now the Ministry of Finance). He also commenced work on his Certified Management Accountant course work, receiving his designation in 1984. Transferring to Executive Council as Director of Finance & Administration in 1991, he served briefly under Premier Don Getty. He continued in that position, under Premier Ralph Klein for a number of years and in early 1998, moved to the Department of Municipal Affairs - still responsible for Finance & Administration. At the same time, Keray completed his course work for his Masters Degree in Public Administration, graduating in 1994.

In 1999, Keray joined the new Ministry of Children's Services, his first experience in a social delivery department, as Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for finance, human resources, information technology, legal services, administrative support, business and strategic planning. In early 2005, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Education, serving under Honorable Gene Zwozdesky.