Join the Public Affairs Association of Canada Ontario Chapter’s coffee series on Friday, September 17 from 12 pm – 1:00 pm EST. Click here to register!
The Women in Public Affairs (WIPA) Mentorship Program is excited to bring forward a dynamic community of women leaders in the Public Affairs industry by launching its first coffee series. The panel discussion moderated by Tiffany Gooch (Executive Lead - Public Engagement& Communications at Peel District School Board) with Founders Amanda Alvaro (Pomp and Circumstance PR), Kim Wright (Wright Strategies), and Sydney Oakes (“Provoke Public Relations) will bring a thoughtful discussion on the importance of being a women entrepreneur, obstacles that they came across, and lessons they learned on their way to success.
Please join us on Friday, September 17 at noon in this fireside coffee chat with these trendsetting women as they talk about their experiences, motivation to start their own firm, and the role other women played in helping them create a successful path.
The event will start with a dynamic panel conversation followed by smaller break-out rooms allowing for more direct questions & interactions with our participants and moderator. Attendance is limited – book your spot today!
Who should attend?
● Women students, entry-level and established mid-career professionals.
● Anyone passionate and curious about pursuing a career in Public Affairs and seeking inspiration from women leaders
● Anyone looking to connect with like-minded PAAC members and share experiences.
Agenda:
● 12:00 pm –12:05 pm, Event Overview & Panel Introduction
● 12:05 pm –12:30 pm, Panel Discussion between Amanda, Kim Wright, and Sydney Oakes, Moderated by Tiffany Gooch
● 12:30 pm –12:55 pm, Networking in 3 Breakout rooms
● 12:55 pm – 1:00pm, Event Wrap up and concluding remarks from PAAC board member
Panelists:
Amanda Alvaro, President, Pomp and Circumstance PR
Amanda Alvaro is the President of the award-winning creative agency, Pomp, and Circumstance. A veteran communicator, Amanda has led global campaigns across virtually all categories from finance to fashion, tech to telco, auto to the arts. Under her leadership in 2020, P&C was named one of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies, Strategy’s Agency of Year, and the only Canadian PR agency on Adweek's Fastest Growing Agencies in the World list. She was also named PR Person of the Year 2020.
Amanda has led P&C through sustained year-over-year growth since its inception in 2015 and outperforms the competition by using a powerful combination of creative media, digital/social, integrated, and experiential.
Amanda is frequently sought after by CEOs, politicians, thought leaders for executive profile building, crisis communication, media, and performance training. When she's not at P&C, you can find her bantering politics as a weekly political commentator on CBC TV's hit political show, Power and Politics.
She has operated as a senior political advisor on successive election campaigns at the provincial and federal levels and was a key member of Trudeau’s leadership bid. Amanda is the founder of Artbound Charity, Chair of Rethink Breast Cancer, and co-chair of Canadian Art. Amanda can also be found on the speakers circuit, with topics ranging from PR, politics, entrepreneurship, women in business.
Kim Wright, Principal, Wright Strategies
Since 2005, Kim Wright has provided senior public affairs counsel to national and international clients across multiple industries. Kim has engaged in public affairs campaigns across Canada at all three orders of government. Leveraging her deep knowledge of politics and public affairs, she founded Wright Strategies in 2018.
Kim has built and executed successful public affairs engagements on a wide range of issues including infrastructure, transportation, budget/taxation, labour relations, public health, and licensing. She has successfully managed various aspects of development files, changes to municipal by-laws and policies, and has overseen procurement response programs.
Kim is best known as a municipal affairs expert; however, her expertise is not limited to one level of government. She has been involved in politics at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels since 1990.
Kim is a frequent media commentator on political issues. She regularly appears on CP24, CityTV, AM640, Global News, Toronto Star, National Post Radio, Zoomer Radio, and the CBC.
Sydney Oakes, Founder and Principal Partner, Provoke Public Relations
Sydney Oakes is a founder and principal partner of “Provoke Public Relations, a female-led public affairs and relations firm founded in2019.
Sydney was first bitten by the political bug at the local level, where she worked in public policy for municipal and First Nation communities in southern Ontario. She then brought this experience to the Ontario Legislative Internship Programme at Queen’s Park in 2015, as one of ten recent graduates chosen to work for MPPs in both government and opposition parties, as a cohort of the now 45 year old fellowship. Following her time at Queen’s Park, Sydney led government relations strategies for the 133 First Nation Chiefs across the province as the Director of Policy and Provincial Affairs for the Chiefs of Ontario.
At “Provoke Public Relations, Sydney focuses on creating advocacy strategies for a diverse range of clients; specializing in those focused on veterans affairs, gender equality, youth and BIPOC communities. Through her advocacy work, Sydney has developed a deep understanding of what drives the cultural, economic and political changes required to make equality a reality in Ontario.
Moderator:
Tiffany Gooch, Executive Lead, Public Engagement & Communications at Peel District School Board
TICKETS
Members: FREE
Non-Members: FREE
