After earning a Bachelor in Humanities and a Master of Public Policy, I decided to focus on a career in Public Service. I turned to the rigorous School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto. My education focused on areas of arts and culture policy, regulatory institutions, child care, and municipal growth – including economic inequality, innovation, and contemporary city building.

Currently, I’m an Issues Coordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

What is this? I take policy information from the divisions of the Ministry and use that information to craft speaking points that the Minister uses in Question Period.

Sounds fun? It is.

Public Policy and Governance Review // Co-Editor-in-Chief: 2013- 2014

*         Co-Editor of the largest Canadian student-led, interdisciplinary academic journal for graduate-level student policy thinking
*         Showed strategic thinking and firm leadership in deciding direction and theme of the publication. Evaluated and edited writing, liaised with universities across Canada; oversaw publication and managed budget
*         Managed a team of 14 editorial assistants and 11 associate editors from disparate universities. Resolved conflicts, edited writing concept and language, established the final product
*         Expanded the online presence of the magazine while maintaining high quality print standards

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities // Policy Intern: summer 2013

*         Demonstrated understanding of policy and legal procedure by proofreading departmental policy and procedural language, ensuring that the actions of our department conformed to legal necessity
*         Compiled policy information for a compliance ‘handbook’ for organizations intending to enroll in OSAP. Showed ability to considering the application process from all stakeholder vantage points and anticipating problems
*         Helped facilitate an information session between MTCU and representatives of Private Career Colleges in Ontario

// Scheduling Assistant to the ADM Strategic Policy: 2012

*         Diligent and thorough in updating the ADM calendar
*         Ensured that all staff were current on critical information and attending necessary meetings – detail-oriented and practical

 // Policy Research Analyst with College of Trades Implementation Project : 2012

*         Prepared briefing material for the Director to use in ADM, DM and Minister-level briefings on financial, policy and stakeholder-relations data
*         Proposed and implemented a Ministry-wide newsletter initiative to inform staff about changes to their operating policy

Office of the Minister of National Defense // Special Assistant to the Minister: 2010-2011

*         Maintained the schedule for the Minister of National Defense
*         Balanced the political and administrative necessities of the Minister’s schedule; ensured that he was prepared for meetings and events
*         Point of contact for embassies, associations and industries, and the Minister’s staff
*         Attended high-level Ministerial scheduling meetings and prepared financial data for public disclosure

Professional Freelance Journalist // 2005 – 2012

*         More than a hundred articles published in Ottawa’s largest weekly newspaper, Ottawa Xpress. I showed the ability to both pierce to the heart of a story, to find what was most important or captivating about it, and then to display it through strong and concise writing
*         Published in the Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen newspapers
*         Interviewed some of Canada’s best and brightest figures in literature and theatre

Health Canada // Media Editor: 2009 –2010

*         Read and analyzed hundreds of daily news items from print, radio and television transcripts
*         Sorted and sent relevant items to the appropriate Departments and Minister’s Office
*         Participated in Communications department strategy meetings

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada // Program Officer : 2006 – 2008

*         Management-level position I was directly responsible for a granting budget of nearly a million dollars
*         Analyzed and evaluated grant applications of highest-tier academic work in both official languages; with the end goal of selecting expert assessors from the international academic community
*         Recorded and edited hundreds of committee statements for public release in both official languages
*         Responded to queries from the public and academic officials, showing diplomacy and restraint, while conforming to strict privacy regulations
*         Prepared detailed conference minutes; conducted all follow-up and correspondence

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

*         Expert understanding of word processing and desktop publishing software
*         Expert spreadsheet building
*         Very familiar with STATA and SPSS software, able to interpret and manipulate complex regressions
*         Database management
*         Website construction and maintenance
*         Familiarity with online media and social media presence

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Public Good Initiative (The Tapscott Group) // Case Study Analyst: 2012 – 2013

*         Working for Don Tapscott, one of Canada’s most famous contemporary business thinkers, I examined the problem-solving structures of a number of large contemporary organizations in order to determine how they effected their goals

Lekan Olawoye Campaign Team // Policy Team Volunteer

*         I’m currently exercising my policy skills in a real-world setting by analyzing problems faced by residents of Toronto’s Ward 12 district. Using demographic, financial, urban geography and economic data I’m developing policy suggestions in the housing area, to tackle challenges faced by both renters and tenants