Megan Stanley, Chair – Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations, Proof Strategies

Megan has more than a decade of experience designing and executing innovative issue-based advocacy campaigns, managing strategic communications, and crafting winning government relations strategies impacting all orders of government. Megan joined Proof Strategies, a leading strategic communications and public affairs firm, after heading up advocacy and member relations for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), where she worked to amplify the voices of more than 2,000 municipalities of all sizes across Canada on the national stage. With this experience, Megan brings a truly unique and in-depth understanding of the realities faced by urban, rural, mid-size and Northern communities and their residents, and how to build common ground to achieve ambitious goals.

Megan’s leadership resulted in billions of dollars of new funding for Canadian communities, from new public transit and affordable housing deals to more reliable rural broadband and timely climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Her ability to navigate governments, build strategic relationships, create winning coalitions, and relentlessly drive a compelling narrative has created tangible change for Canadians and has directly influenced the growing prominence of municipal leaders in Canadian politics and policy-making.

Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Political Studies from Queen’s University and a Master of Political Management Degree from Carleton University. 

Kristina Martin, Past Chair – Founder & CEO, Kit Public Relations Inc.

Kristina is a nationally recognized government relations and communications leader with over 15 years’ experience working in politics, government relations, and communications. She’s a natural connector who’s driven by breaking down barriers and building trust between the public and private sector.

Kristina has advised clients across sectors including science and technology, skilled trades, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, public safety and more. In addition to consulting, Kristina has served as Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Canada’s largest science and technology skills training organization, Actua. Her career path was inspired by her first job in politics, working in a federal party leader’s office, and for a Member of Parliament. 

Kristina has helped secure millions of dollars in federal and provincial funding for her clients. She understands the intricate structures of government, including what levers need to be pulled to accomplish her client’s goals. She is considered a go-to organizer of political engagement events that make a mark.

Kristina is also a former President of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Ottawa Board of Directors. 

Kristina holds a B.A. in Political Science, an MSc. Strategic Public Relations and Communication Management, as well as a Master’s in Political Management.

Hardave Birk, Treasurer – Director, Government Relations, Rogers Communications Inc.

Hardave Birk leads federal government relations for Rogers Communications. Prior to joining Rogers, Hardave worked in government relations for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities after three years as a staffer on Parliament Hill. Hardave also serves as a volunteer board member for both the Government Relations Institute of Canada and the Canadian Advocacy Network. He is president of the Political Management chapter of the Carleton University Alumni Association.

Lori DeLuca, Communications Lead – Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, Invest Alberta

Hardave Birk leads federal government relations for Rogers Communications. Prior to joining Rogers, Hardave worked in government relations for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities after three years as a staffer on Parliament Hill. Hardave also serves as a volunteer board member for both the Government Relations Institute of Canada and the Canadian Advocacy Network. He is president of the Political Management chapter of the Carleton University Alumni Association.

Philip Cartwright – Senior Vice President, Ottawa, Global Public Affairs

Philip leads Global Public Affairs’ Transportation, Infrastructure & Communities practice and co-manages the Ottawa team. With nearly 20 years’ experience in public affairs and public policy, Philip develops and executes government relations and related corporate development strategies for clients, providing advice on all aspects of regulatory, legislative and policy development and ensuring integration of Parliamentary, political and policy considerations.

Philip joined Global Public Affairs in 2007 from the Privy Council Office, working in various secretariats including Machinery of Government, Cabinet Confidences and Senior Personnel and Special Projects. Before living in South Africa, Philip worked with other professional services firms, including a global polling company.

Philip is a Founding Board Member of the Canadian Advocacy Network, is Chair of the Ottawa Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (North America) and serves on the board of Right to Learn Afghanistan. He previously served as President of the Government Relations Institute of Canada (2017-2019), the national organization representing government relations professionals, and on the Canadian Transportation Research Forum and the Canadian Club of Ottawa boards. He holds a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management (Hons.) degree from Carleton University’s Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs and an Executive MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Jarett Lalonde – Director, Government and Public Affairs, FPX Nickel Corp

Philip leads Global Public Affairs’ Transportation, Infrastructure & Communities practice and co-manages the Ottawa team. With nearly 20 years’ experience in public affairs and public policy, Philip develops and executes government relations and related corporate development strategies for clients, providing advice on all aspects of regulatory, legislative and policy development and ensuring integration of Parliamentary, political and policy considerations.

Philip joined Global Public Affairs in 2007 from the Privy Council Office, working in various secretariats including Machinery of Government, Cabinet Confidences and Senior Personnel and Special Projects. Before living in South Africa, Philip worked with other professional services firms, including a global polling company.

Philip is a Founding Board Member of the Canadian Advocacy Network, is Chair of the Ottawa Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (North America) and serves on the board of Right to Learn Afghanistan. He previously served as President of the Government Relations Institute of Canada (2017-2019), the national organization representing government relations professionals, and on the Canadian Transportation Research Forum and the Canadian Club of Ottawa boards. He holds a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management (Hons.) degree from Carleton University’s Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs and an Executive MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Fateema Sayani – Manager, Content and Strategic Communications, Mental Health Commission of Canada

Fateema Sayani is a communications manager at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, focused on stigma reduction. She has worked in social purpose organizations and newsrooms for 20+ years, managing teams, strategy, research, fundraising, communications, and policy. Her work has been published in magazines and newspapers across Canada, focusing on social issues, policy, pop culture, and the Canadian music scene. She was a longtime columnist at the Ottawa Citizen and a senior editor and writer at Ottawa Magazine. She has been a juror for the Polaris Music Prize and the East Coast Music Awards and volunteers with global music presenting organization Axé WorldFest and is a past board director with the Community Broadcasters Foundation of Canada.

Fateema holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism, a master’s degree in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, and certificates in French-language writing from McGill and public policy development from the Max Bell Foundation Public Policy Training Institute. She researches nonprofit news models to support the development of this work in Canada and to shift narratives about underrepresented communities. Her work in publishing earned her numerous accolades for social justice reporting, including multiple Canadian Online Publishing Awards and the Joan Gullen Award for Media Excellence.

Stacey Noronha – Manager of Public Affairs, Build A Dream

Stacey Noronha serves as Build a Dream’s Manager of Public Affairs where she brings a wealth of experience in public affairs, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, honed over nearly a decade in the Federal Public Service.

Notable accomplishments include national campaigns to advance Canada’s first Feminist International Assistance Policy, a digital recruitment campaign that targeted under-represented groups within the energy sector’s workforce, and the launch of the 2 Billion Trees program. Stacey was the recipient of a Government of Canada Award for her role in facilitating the recruitment and retention of a representative public service.

A graduate of the University of Windsor and Ottawa’s own Carleton University, Stacey’s passion for empowering marginalized groups is driven by her experiences as a woman, a member of a racialized community, and an immigrant. As Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee at Dress for Success Ottawa, she works to create spaces that embrace diversity and equity. From her role at the Senate of Canada to her involvement with federal party politics and Equal Voice, she is also committed to facilitating women’s access to the political sphere.

Stacey believes that together, we can build a better, more equitable Canada.

Gwendolyn Moncrieff-Gould – Policy Lead, Child Health Policy Accelerator, SickKids

Gwendolyn Moncrieff-Gould is the inaugural Policy Lead for Child Health Policy Accelerator at SickKids. Previously, she worked as the Director, Public Policy and Engagement with BGC Canada (formerly the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada), and in a variety of roles with Universities Canada. She has also worked in policy development for the water sector with the MacEachen Institute at Dalhousie University. Originally from Toronto, Gwendolyn also holds a Combined Honours Degree in Political Science and Contemporary Studies from the University of King’s College and a Masters of Political Management from Carleton University.

Gwendolyn has been involved with election campaigns in two provinces, and at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels.

Nicholas Schiavo – Director of Government and Stakeholder Relations, Canadian Media Producers Association

Nicholas Schiavo is the Director of Government and Stakeholder Relations with the Canadian Media Producers Association where he leads national advocacy on behalf of Canada’s independent TV and film producers. 

From 2018-2024, Nicholas served as the Executive Director of No Conversion Canada, a national, grassroots, nonprofit coalition he founded to ban conversion “therapy” practices in Canada. In December 2021, No Conversion Canada and partners successfully passed Bill C-4, officially outlawing conversion “therapy” practices in Canada.

Previously, Nicholas worked as a Director of Federal Affairs with the Council of Canadian Innovators, Director of Policy and Government Relations with Impact Public Affairs, a Policy Analyst with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the G7 Task Force, as an Ontario Global Edge Fellow in Nairobi, Kenya and with the Green Party of Canada during the 2015 federal election. Over the years Nicholas has been fortunate to work with a number of global institutions as a delegate, including the Commonwealth, the World Bank Group and the United Nations.

From 2017-2019, Nicholas served as the Program Director of the Young Diplomats of Canada where he met with Cabinet and the Prime Minister to develop a national, youth agenda. In 2018, he was selected as a Future Leaders Connect Fellow by the British Council to develop a long term policy action plan on LGBTQ2+ rights with the University of Cambridge. 

Nicholas has been named one of “Canada’s Future Foreign Policymakers” by Open Canada and an “Emerging Leader in Politics and Government” by the Peak. Nicholas is passionate about community organizing and currently serves on the Board of It Gets Better Canada as well as the Canadian Advocacy Network. 

Nicholas holds a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in International Relations from Western University and a Master of Political Management as part of the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program from Carleton University.