CAPITAL HILL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Managing Director - Toronto
Amber Irwin is an experienced public affairs professional with a background in media relations, issues management, and strategic communications.
Amber has advised leaders at both the federal and provincial levels of government. During her time in Ottawa, Amber worked on a wide-range of files, from the establishment of the International Day of the Girl to the creation of Shared Services Canada. She most recently served as the Director of Communications to Ontario's Minister of Long-term Care.
Originally from southern Ontario, Amber lives in British Columbia with her husband and three kids. She spends most of her time outside of work making snacks.
Career Highlights
Director of Communications to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Shared Services Canada
Ben Menka has extensive experience as a political advisor, having worked for multiple cabinet Ministers in a variety of portfolios in both Federal and Provincial governments.
Prior to joining Capital Hill Group, Ben was a senior political advisor to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services, where he managed the supply chain centralization initiative. Working closely with senior officials, he also played a key role in driving the adoption of innovative technologies for information and information technology services across the government. He also advised on key real estate priorities for the Minister including overseeing the optimization of real estate assets, and the strategic divestment of surplus properties.
Through his experience across Government, Ben developed an acumen for building relationships between the Minister's Office, the civil service, and stakeholders to ensure alignment on key priorities.
Prior to his role at the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, Ben was an advisor to the Minister of Education where he implemented key legislative and regulatory priorities, and transfer payment reform.
Before his time in the Ontario government, Ben Menka worked as an aide for the Official Opposition at Queen's Park; prior to this, he served as an aide to the President of the Treasury Board of Canada.
Career Highlights
Director of Policy to Ontario's Minister of Government and Consumer Services
Job Titles:
- Master
- Researcher
- Researcher - Toronto / Toronto
Catarina Leite is a master's candidate in European and Russian Affairs at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and the Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (CERES) at the University of Toronto. Her research is focused on the impacts of NATO cybersecurity policy decisions experienced by defence alliances and periphery states since the start of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Catarina participated in an internship through the Munk School at the Center for Legal Aid in Sofia, Bulgaria where she assisted with policy analysis related to migrants and their immigration cases in Bulgaria's supreme court.
She has previously worked for the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development as a Policy and Programs Assistant, in the Health and Safety Training, Administration, and Certification Unit, focusing on their Internal complaints management policy and making content for the Supporting Ontario's Safe Employers Program webpage. She enjoys cooking and baking gluten free recipes in her free time.
Career Highlights
Policy and Programs Assistant at the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
David Dyer is one of Ottawa's leading experts in the history, fundamentals and modernization of Canada's federal Copyright Act, and has counselled many leading entertainment associations involved in the production and distribution of various media, including music, movies, TV and books.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director - Ottawa
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Policy Advisor for Real Property & IT Procurement to the Federal Minister of Public Works
With over a decade of federal government experience and a background in issues management, policy development and parliamentary affairs Fernando provides his clients with a 360 degree perspective.
Fernando has served as Policy Advisor for Real Property & IT Procurement to the Federal Minister of Public Works and Shared Services Canada and as Issues Manager and Senior Assistant for Parliamentary Affairs to the Federal Minister of Public Works.
In addition, Fernando has served in leadership roles on multiple political campaigns, including leadership campaigns, at both the federal and provincial level in Ontario for over 25 years.
Hugo is an award-winning strategist with an extensive career as a digital transformation and training consultant. Having worked as a private corporate consultant for over 15 years, Hugo has developed an uncanny ability to build dynamic strategies, proposals, and training content in relatable ways across various forms of media. Hugo specializes in behavioural science, gamification, and change management with a focus on accessibility best practices. He has collaborated with companies such as the Bank of Montreal, Bell Canada, Hamilton Health Sciences, XpertVR, Deloitte Canada, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Volkswagen and even Netflix.
Hugo currently sits on the Board of Directors for Autism Speaks. As an advocate for the autism community, Hugo has helped ushered in a new way of approach neurodiversity in the workplace. Having graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Master's in Interactive Media, Hugo helps our clients solve their online presence and brand identities. As part of our support team, Hugo will be available for all design-related creative services.
As a Harvard graduate with a Master's in Behavioural Finance, Hugo has leveraged his work in behavioural economics to further drive engagement through his visual design work. As a lifelong learner, Hugo is always finding ways to adapt to new and old technologies to relate to government, communities and corporations.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Consultant
- Master
- Associate Consultant / Toronto
Michaela Nudo is a master's candidate at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and the Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (CERES), at the University of Toronto. Michaela is preparing to defend her master's thesis on targeting withing universal social policy in Germany, specifically non-employment based welfare such as health, training, and education, in March 2023. While at the Munk School, Michaela has published multiple papers, participated in conferences across the University of Toronto, and conducted international field research. She has served as a visiting research intern at the Leibniz Institute for East and South-East European Studies in Regensburg, Germany, where she worked with their political science research group. Michaela also previously worked for Dell Technologies as a Senior Account Manager. While at Dell, she managed a portfolio of global clientele, including fortune 100 clients, across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Mr. Richard B. Fadden was the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister from January 19, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Previously he was the Deputy Minister of National Defence starting in May 2013, he served as the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service from 2009 until 2013.
He has also served as the Deputy Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Canada from 2006 to 2009, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada from 2005 to 2006, President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from 2002 to 2005, and Deputy Clerk and Counsel in the Privy Council Office from 2000 to 2002, during which he assumed the additional duties of Security and Intelligence Coordinator in February 2001.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Fadden worked in a variety of different positions across the Government of Canada including in the Department of External Affairs, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat.
Mr. Fadden holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Laws from the University de Montreal, and a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from McGill University.
Career Highlights
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister
Job Titles:
- Presian Dragiev / Researcher
Sarah Coady is a fourth-year student at Wilfrid Laurier University and will be graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in Political Science and a minor in English from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2023. During her undergraduate career, Sarah founded the Women Leading Politics Association at Laurier in 2020 and has been the Co-president for the previous two years. By founding her own club and association at university, she has created a platform for women to learn, analyze, and strive to shatter the glass ceiling.
The Women Leading Politics Association has been a resource for Indigenous peoples, LGBTQIA+, non-binary individuals, and young women from all academic backgrounds. While holding the founder and president position, Sarah has met with mayors and councillors from a variety of cities, alongside a handful of female politicians where they have discussed inequities and female success in the political realm.
Sarah prides herself on her adaptability and writing skills as she is able to draft timely reports and adjust to any environment needed to complete her best work. On her own time, Sarah enjoys hiking, reading books, cooking, and teaching herself sign language. She is committed to continuing her learning in areas of interest such as the Indigenous population, national defence, and international relations.
Career Highlights
Women Leading Politics Association at Laurier - Found and Co-President 2020 - 2022
Education
Bachelor of Political Science, Laurier University
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Senior Consultant - Quebec
Sébastien Chamberland has worked in the business community for 25 years and has been active in municipal and provincial politics for more than 10 years.
Within the Quebec provincial government (2019-24), Sébastien has established key relationships with several players in politics, business and high technologies (artificial intelligence). In his role as senior political advisor, he was able to strengthen the links between the government and companies in diverse fields (steel, commercial and industrial real estate, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, educational technology) as well as those of the Technological Park of Metropolitan Quebec. In particular, he pushed forward their financial, modifications and revisions requests to provincial laws and regulations.
Wes McLean began working in the political sphere in 2003 for former New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord. He later worked for the Senate Conservative Leader, then as Special Assistant in the PMO, and as Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Veterans Affairs.
From 2010 to 2014, he was a Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Victoria-Tobique. During that time, he served as Deputy Government House Leader, and Legislative Secretary to the Premier. He also chaired the PC Caucus Committee for Legislative Review. Wes authored the Organ and Tissue Donation Strategy Act, which received the unanimous approval of the Assembly in 2014.
He returned to the Senate Conservative Leader's Office, and in late 2016, began as Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Premier of Manitoba, then as Special Assistant to Premier Brian Pallister.
Wes served as Deputy Chief of Staff to New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs from 2018 to 2021, where he was responsible for legislative and policy planning, as well as cabinet operations.
Career Highlights
Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Premier of Manitoba - 2016