Born and raised in the Town of Coldwater in Simcoe North, Jill Dunlop developed a love and appreciation for rural Ontario, and witnessed firsthand the importance of community and small local businesses, as her grandparents owned Dunlop Plumbing and her parents were actively engaged community members. This inspired her to run as the MPP for Simcoe North in 2018 to advocate for the small business sector and the skilled trades, the backbone of Ontario’s economy.

Jill has been the member of provincial parliament for Simcoe North since 2018 and has served as the Minister of Colleges and Universities since 2021. Prior to being elected, Jill attended Western University, and later joined the faculty of Georgian College. With her experience at Georgian College, and as a mother of three postsecondary aged daughters who give her unique insights into the world of higher education, Jill is uniquely qualified and prepared to lead the postsecondary and research sectors. Through her experience building and fostering partnerships within the postsecondary education sector, Jill has successfully created the connections students need to receive on-the-job experience to kickstart their careers in the local community.

Additionally, Jill was appointed Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues in the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services in 2019.