Politics and Government

A firm believer in attitude over aptitude. My willingness to learn and strong work ethic allow me to be a team player who proactively seeks opportunities to build my decision-making skills, increase self-awareness, and foster genuine relationships. Both personally and professionally I pride myself on demonstrating an optimistic and enthusiastic approach to work that inspires others to reach their potential. I am a results driven professional with a background in financial planning and analysis, commercial lending, and process improvement initiatives within the public and private sectors. Love to run, ride my bike and lace up my hockey skates. Hoping to witness a Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Parade in my lifetime!

As the marketing manager for Toronto Parking Authority (TPA), I lead initiatives across Green P Parking, Charging, and Bike Share Toronto. With 10 years of agency experience, I'm passionate about enhancing customer experiences and communications. TPA is undergoing a transformation from a traditional parking organization, into a provider of sustainable mobility solutions. Parking is often overlooked as a key element of city mobility. We are doing a lot of work to modernize and improve convenience, safety, and accessibility. Parking can be a major stressor. And unclear signage and wayfinding is often to blame. I believe a customer-centered approach is key to improving the experience. By focusing on the needs of customers and their journey, we can revolutionize the parking process. Alongside the innovative work of the parking development team, TPA is a key player in transforming Toronto into a vibrant, sustainable mobility ecosystem. Imagine planning your trip in advance—reserving your Green P parking spot and charger online, navigating via GPS, and entering the garage with license-plate recognition. In under 5 minutes you’re parked and on your way, possibly hopping onto a Bike Share to complete the last mile. This seamless experience enhances convenience so that you can get to that job interview, concert, or medical appointment with choice, ease, and speed. As a marketer, this is the mentality I bring to the TPA, aiming to position the organization as an industry leader and deliver a customer-first vision that aligns with our business objectives.

Jennifer is a communications and digital advocacy strategist with a proven track record of shaping public opinion and mobilizing audiences. She is a trusted advisor who excels at leading integrated campaigns with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems and deliver winning outcomes. Clients and colleagues know they can count on her to go the extra mile and make things happen. Before joining NATIONAL, Canada’s leading public relations firm, she honed her skills by building and executing successful advocacy campaigns at a fast-growing public affairs agency. Her portfolio spans diverse sectors and includes some of Canada’s most recognized companies, large industry associations, and social impact groups. Jennifer is an alumna of Queen’s University, where she also served as President of the student government.

Rahul spearheaded a revolution in research security at the University of Windsor, managing a $42M portfolio with unmatched precision. His strategic initiatives reduced institutional vulnerabilities, ensured compliance, and accelerated secure partner onboarding. By architecting innovate in-house tools and frameworks, he not only safeguarded intellectual assets but also set the benchmark for research security excellence across Canada, redefining the future of institutional risk management. Beyond national impact, he elevated the University of Windsor’s research security program onto the global stage, positioning it as a model of excellence. His leadership has garnered international recognition, securing prestigious accolades and reinforcing the university’s standing as a leader in research security for small-medium research institutions. Committed to driving positive change beyond academia and government, Rahul actively contributes to the community by serving on multiple advisory committees including the one for the Member of Parliament of Windsor-Tecumseh. Through this role, he provides strategic insights on policy initiatives, economic development, and technological advancements, ensuring a stronger, more innovative future for the region. Thriving at the intersection of innovation and impact, he excels in integrating AI and automation to redefine workflows, safeguarding research integrity, and leading strategic partnerships to unlock new horizons. He brings passion, precision, and performance to every challenge he undertakes. He also brings years of experience in Responsible AI, Consulting and Program Management.

John is a communications and issues management professional with extensive experience advising executives at some of the country’s leading companies. His passion for health, wellness and fitness has led him to the GoodLife Group, where he is focused on communications, government relations, reputation, media relations and corporate strategy for the company’s nine fitness brands and over 650 Clubs worldwide. He is an active advocate for the LGBTQ community and currently serves as a committee member of CANFAR's Legacy Project.

Patrick Osland is a seasoned public affairs leader with extensive expertise in stakeholder engagement, government relations, and policy development. As a Senior Advisor on the Municipal Affairs & Stakeholder Relations Team at Enbridge Gas Inc., Patrick spearheads strategic engagement efforts to support major infrastructure projects, operations, and energy policy advancements within the City of Toronto. Before joining Enbridge, Patrick built a diverse and impactful career, holding key roles at the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Global Affairs Canada, and several political offices at the Parliament of Canada. Patrick holds a Master’s degree in Advanced International Studies from the Vienna School of International Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Carleton University.

Jordan is a Director at EY-Parthenon in Toronto. He joined the firm in 2024 to help build their new national strategy consulting practice for the Government and Public Sector. At EY-Parthenon, he collaborates with his clients across all levels of government to solve complex problems impacting the quality and delivery of public services including health care, economic development, infrastructure, and municipal governance. Prior to joining EY-Parthenon, Jordan worked as the Deputy Director of Fiscal Strategy and Capital Planning for Ontario's Finance Minister and Treasury Board President. He advised the Minister on a variety of critical issues such as the province's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, post-pandemic economic recovery, rapid inflation, and the crisis in housing affordability and availability. Jordan supported development of Ontario’s ambitious infrastructure plan tracking to invest approximately $200 billion over the next 10 years. He supported key decisions on development and delivery of capital projects including hospitals, transit, housing enabling infrastructure, and broadband internet. Jordan also played a pivotal role in the development of 11 provincial fiscal documents including Ontario’s Budgets and Fall Economic Statements. Jordan is a member of his local Toronto Lion's Club, regularly supporting their charitable fundraising and humanitarian assistance initiatives. He previously served on the Board of the Ostomy Canada Society, as well as work for the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto. Jordan holds a Master of Public Policy from the Munk School at the University and a combined Honours Bachelor of Arts and Business Management from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Chris Evelyn is the Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister for Families, Children and Social Development. Born and raised in Barbados before moving to Canada at age 16, he is the second Black Canadian to hold the post of Chief of Staff to a federal Minister in the Trudeau government. Chris has been working in politics since 2015, serving in several roles including Policy Advisor, and Director of Operations and Outreach and Chief of Staff to three federal ministers. During his time in politics, he has played an instrumental role in leading some of Canada’s most transformative social policies. In his work he has ensured that diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the federal government’s work. Under his leadership, Canada introduced its first ever National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence, launched the Federal 2SLGBTQ+ Action Plan, expanded access to Broadband internet to hundreds of thousands, and hired over 100 000 young Canadians through the Canada Summer Jobs program. In his current role, he is leading on the roll out of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Childcare $10 a day program and the National School Food Program. Both programs are providing meaningful financial relief for families as they cope with the impacts of inflation. Chris has a bachelor’s in history and international political economy and a master’s in history from Trent University. He also has a master’s in international affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.

Phaedra is a Senior Policy Advisor at Deloitte's Future of Canada Centre, where she helps shape the firm's public policy positions. She also represents Canada in Deloitte’s Young Public Policy Community, a global initiative fostering international collaboration on today’s most pressing challenges. A globally experienced technology policy thought-leader and strategic communicator, Phaedra specializes in interpreting geopolitics and emerging policy trends for opportunities and risk. With over eight years of experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors, she operates at the intersection of emerging technologies, politics, and strategic engagement. Her academic background includes a Master of Public Policy from McGill University, where her research focused on Canada’s trade relationship with China, and a general management certificate from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. She has worked or studied in Canada, Hong Kong, Geneva, Colombia, the U.K., and the U.S., and is a dual citizen of Canada and Finland. Phaedra currently volunteers as a mentor with McGill University’s Women in Leadership Program, and in the past has served on a variety of boards, including at McGill University and Girls Action Foundation, as well as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Some of her most gratifying achievements have included founding her own digital media company, learning Spanish over a summer working in Colombia, and contributing as an intern to the Global Affairs Canada team that drafted Canada’s 2022 statement on Russia’s use of disinformation as a tactic of war in Ukraine. Above all she is a proud-Montrealer and -McGill alum.

Marissa Fortune is a dedicated public servant currently working in the Office of the Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister. Through her career in foreign policy, her work with nonprofits, and her community leadership, Marissa seeks to create positive change for a more peaceful and sustainable future. Marissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Joint-Honours Political Science and International Development from McGill University and a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Geneva Graduate Institute. Prior to joining the Canadian Government, she was living and working in Accra, Ghana where she completed a research fellowship at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. Marissa has also worked at the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, and the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies. Marissa is an active advocate for youth engagement internationally. She represented Canada at the Youth G7 Summit in Paris in 2019 and was invited to testify at the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on behalf of the Young Professionals Network at Global Affairs Canada in September 2022. While the Program Lead for the Young Diplomats of Canada from 2021 to 2024, Marissa helped send over 160 youth delegates to 40 international summits. She is also the recipient of a Public Service Award of Excellence in the Exceptional Young Public Servants Category and King Charles III’s Coronation Medal. With more than 10 years of experience in community organizing and policy advocacy, Marissa strives to build bridges across sectors, cultures, and countries.

Shravan Kumar is a seasoned project management and infrastructure advisor who thrives at the intersection of policy, strategy, and execution. With a background in civil engineering and an MBA from Ivey Business School, Canada, he brings a structured yet adaptable approach to solving complex challenges. Currently a Senior Advisor, Commercial Projects at Infrastructure Ontario (IO), Shravan is focused on improving broadband access across Ontario. He leads the Technical Assistance Team, working directly with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to close connectivity gaps in underserved communities. By bridging technical expertise with real-world implementation, he ensures that provincial investments translate into faster, more efficient, and impactful infrastructure rollouts. Having spent years in the private sector managing large-scale real estate and infrastructure developments, Shravan understands how to optimize processes, manage risk, and drive efficiency in high-stakes projects. At IO, he applies this experience to challenge traditional government approaches, streamline project execution, and extract greater value from contracts—ensuring taxpayer dollars work harder and deliver better outcomes. Shravan is passionate about turning ambitious infrastructure plans into tangible realities. Whether working with government partners or private-sector stakeholders, his goal is clear: to improve the way infrastructure is planned, delivered, and managed so that it creates lasting benefits for Ontarians.

Brett Thalmann is a founding partner of Nexus Strategic Consultants with over 20 years of experience as a leading political advisor, strategist, and community organizer in Canada. He brings over seven years of experience in the Prime Minister's Office in his senior leadership role as Executive Director of Planning, Administration and People, where he oversaw several key teams, including Research and Advertising, Strategic Planning, Appointments and Human Resources. He led several of the COVID response efforts in the PMO, launching an extensive national health advertising campaign and setting up a team to analyze real-time data on the pandemic to ensure decision-makers had relevant and accurate information at their disposal. In the 2015, 2019 and 2021 elections, Brett led national campaign efforts to target key communications to specific audiences in swing ridings through digital advertising, earned media and direct voter contact by phone, mail, and door-to-door. Leading up to the 2015 election, Brett led the Liberal team in Ontario, building up the party’s digital presence and recruiting volunteers and candidates across the province. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and the University of Pennsylvania, Brett also served as the chair of the Undergraduate Assembly and a member of the Sphinx Senior Society. Brett served as the co-president of the Penn-Wharton Club of Toronto and is currently the co-chair of PennGALA.

Zoe Keirstead is an associate principal in Navigator’s Calgary office with extensive experience working across all levels of government. With her vast knowledge of government and media relations, issues management, and public affairs campaigns, Zoe supports a variety of clients across multiple industries. While working in Alberta and British Columbia, she developed significant expertise in the oil and gas sector, providing clients with unique insights and support. Prior to joining Navigator, Zoe served as an adviser for British Columbia’s Finance Minister and Government House Leader. In this role, she worked closely on the provincial budget communications plan and rollout, analyzed Treasury Board documents, and strategized communications following the 2017 election that resulted in a minority government. Before moving to British Columbia, Zoe worked for the federal government in Ottawa as a Policy Adviser to the Minister of Status of Women and Labour. She has worked on campaigns from coast to coast, including provincial leadership campaigns in Alberta and British Columbia, as well as serving on the premier’s media bus during the 2017 B.C. election. Zoe holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with distinction from Queen’s University. During her studies, she was accepted into an international exchange program at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where she studied public relations and communications. Zoe is actively involved in her community as a Committee Member for Big Brothers Big Sisters Calgary and Area and as a member of the Agriculture Western Media and Events Committee for the Calgary Stampede.

Shreya Gupta is a Senior Advisor at Infrastructure Ontario (IO) in the Commercial Advisory and Strategy Group, leading the Broadband One Window (BOW) workstream within the Utilities Advisory, Broadband Delivery, and Digital Twin team. As the platform and integration lead she manages data orchestration and operational processes to ensure BOW supports broadband deployment across Ontario. She works closely with the Ministry’s Broadband leads, Technical Assistance Team (TAT), BOW’s technical vendors and stakeholders like the Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Local Distribution Companies (LDCs), and municipalities to built, operate and maintain this one-stop-shop BOW platform which helps streamline permitting, approvals, and subsidies, reducing delays and improving project outcomes. Shreya’s career spans bioscience research in India, marketing analytics for German clients, and an MBA in Canada. This diverse background enables her to combine technical expertise with strategic problem-solving to enhance infrastructure delivery. She has led efforts to integrate multiple platforms into a unified workflow, making BOW more accessible and effective for stakeholders — ultimately accelerating provincial broadband projects. Shreya is passionate about lifelong learning, speaks multiple languages, and values cultural exploration. Her leadership, adaptability, and dedication to removing barriers in broadband deployment position her as a transformative force in Ontario’s digital infrastructure landscape.

Jeff serves as Manager, Government and Stakeholder Relations at 407 ETR. He’s previously worked as a consultant, and held positions in various roles within municipal and provincial governments. At Queen's Park, he led communications efforts and issues management as a press secretary to a cabinet minister. Jeff has been instrumental in expanding dialogue with government, industry associations, and boards of trade, fostering stronger relationships and promoting collaboration.

From Prince Edward Island, Chris is the Director of Communications to the federal Minister of Small Business. In this role, he advises the Minister on Canada’s entrepreneurship and innovation policies, including digital adoption, inclusive entrepreneurship, and venture capital. Chris previously served as an advisor to the Canadian Minister of International Trade, where he oversaw Canada-EU relations and managed Canada’s free trade negotiations with the United Kingdom and with Ukraine. Chris’ interest in the intersection of policy and economic development has taken him around the world, conducting research and engaging with policymakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. From studying tech hubs in China to analyzing energy infrastructure in Pakistan to examining agricultural innovation in Uzbekistan, he has sought to understand how different economies navigate growth, trade, and technological change.

Phil Donelson is a senior advocacy and public policy leader with a long career advancing the priorities of Canadian businesses. As the Vice President, Public Policy at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, he leads work on behalf of Canada’s home, auto, and business insurers that shapes government policy on economic resilience, disaster preparedness, and competitiveness and innovation. He is a trusted advisor to senior executives on the most pressing issues facing Canadian industry, including the Canada-U.S. trade relationship. Previously, Phil served as a Senior Advisor to the Premier of Ontario on energy and economic development, and led policy and advocacy work at an AI startup. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and lives in Toronto with his young family.

Lee Boswell is a Consultant with Crestview Strategy, based out of Toronto. Lee leads advocacy on behalf of Crestview Strategy’s clients in some of the most regulated markets. This includes telecommunications, pensions, public procurement, and infrastructure. Before joining Crestview Strategy, Lee worked for CPC HQ as National Youth Coordinator. Previous to this, Lee worked for the Shadow Minister for Digital Government and during the 2020 summer as an intern for the Shadow Minister for Ethics. Upon conclusion of his internship, Lee was recognized by the Conservative Party of Canada as their 2020 Intern of the Year. During the 2021 Election, Lee was CPC HQ’s National Volunteer Coordinator and on the National Get-Out-The-Vote Team in the 2021 CPC War Room. Most recently, Lee was Campaign Manager for Conservative candidate Jamil Jivani in the 2024 Durham by-election, with that campaign winning with the largest win-margin in Durham in a century.

Caitlin Tolley is an Algonquin Anishinabe lawyer from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, located in the southwest region of Quebec. She works as Crown Counsel at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General in Toronto. She was called to the Ontario bar in 2019. Caitlin completed her articling requirements in-house at the Royal Bank of Canada. She uses her legal expertise to advance Indigenous legal issues in the public service. Caitlin completed her LL.M. in Administrative Law from York University. She obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Common Law. Caitlin completed the Intensive Program in Aboriginal Lands, Resources, and Governments from Osgoode Hall Law School York University. During her final year of law school, Caitlin completed a legal internship in the Office of the Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair on Parliament Hill. Caitlin serves as a Director with the Empire Club of Canada. Caitlin previously served on the Indigenous Advisory Group with the Law Society of Ontario. She was selected as a Fellow with the Toronto Civic Action Leadership in 2021-2022. Caitlin was recognized by the Public Policy Forum as the emerging leader of the year. Caitlin remains connected to her First Nations community. Prior to attending law school, Caitlin was elected to Chief and Council as an elected Band Councillor in Kitigan Zibi. She also served as a youth leader on the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council.