Neil Neary

BA, DC, MPH-HP

Neil is most passionate about collaborating with people to create real-world change. With his knack for identifying root causes, Neil makes a difference by finding creative, effective, elegant solutions for complex challenges. And he is all about having fun while making an impact. Functionally, Neil has been doing this within different organizations for the last 16 years, but this isn’t where his career began.

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Queen’s University and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, Neil opened a clinic in southwestern Manitoba. He specialized in sports management and workplace injuries for over 10 years. He was also passionate to give back to his community and volunteered with Rotary, the United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, and Brandon University, which exposed him to the idea of pursuing a new career focused on tackling big issues with collaborative problem-solving.

So, Neil charted a new path and received his Masters in Public Health from the University of Alberta (U of A). In addition to working in engagement, strategic planning, and quality improvement in the healthcare, post-secondary education, not-for-profit, and corporate environments, Neil also found that he enjoyed teaching and was a sessional instructor in the U of A’s School of Public Health for several years.

Neil has been fortunate to work with dozens of groups on a wide array of challenges, from small local issues to province-wide initiatives. This work has ranged from developing community health programs to leading strategic planning sessions for large organizations. He has a knack for bringing together stakeholders from different sectors, helping them to find common ground and develop actionable plans.

With the ability to quickly and succinctly analyze complex situations and challenges, Neil’s approach often involves a mix of facilitation techniques, data analysis, and a deep understanding of organizational dynamics. His work has been instrumental in driving improvements in service delivery, policy development, and organizational effectiveness across various fields.

Neil enjoys the outdoors and spending time with family. He and his wife own a cottage in Manitoba near many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He enjoys downhill skiing, biking, and golf, but has also been known to drag people to symphonies and operas. Neil’s wife is an executive working in construction, and they have an adult son who is studying to be a civil engineer and a rescue dog that is smarter than she looks.