Earlier, we reported on Earnscliffe Strategy Group Inc. senior consultant Byng Giraud's decision to leave the government relations firm to become the senior policy and communications director for the Mining Association of British Columbia. And who's going to be replacing him, you may wonder? Well that would be Yaroslav Baran, the communications director for Stephen Harper's successful federal Conservative leadership bid. Mr. Baran, who was also a senior communications adivsor to the Tories during the 2006 election campaign, will be based in Ottawa - focusing on British Columbia-related files. The following is a complete copy of his biography.

YAROSLAV BARAN

Prior to joining Earnscliffe, Yaroslav Baran gained understanding of Ottawa with eight years of parliamentary experience ranging from House of Commons procedure to political communications. He managed parliamentary procedural matters for three years in the Office of the Chief Opposition Whip under Chuck Strahl and Jay Hill --- before becoming legislative assistant to Ontario MP Scott Reid. This was followed by his appointment as senior communications manager in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Baran then served as Director of Communications in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative Party leadership campaign. He has also worked as a government relations consultant for the last year.

During the 2004 national election campaign, he was Deputy Communications Director for the Conservative Party, and subsequently appointed Manager of Strategic Communications in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Baran directed the Conservative Party's "war room" communications and media relations during the successful 2006 national election campaign as Senior Communications Advisor.

Mr. Baran is a native of Hamilton, Ontario. He graduated with an Honours degree in History from McMaster University, and subsequently did graduate studies in International Relations at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. He has also completed numerous programs in media relations and human resource management.