Alan balances his time across client engagement and performance, team success and agency development. A 25-year communications industry veteran, Alan brings a broad range of expertise and insight to SHIFT from both agency and client-side positions. Since joining the profession, Alan has remained fascinated with how stories about companies, people and ideas are shaped and shared. He loves how creativity and science fuse together to shape the most impactful programs. In 2020, Business Insider named Alan one of the top PR professionals in technology. He is also a member of The Ocean Cleanup’s global comms team, a Dutch non-profit technology company fighting to eliminate plastic waste in our oceans worldwide. A native of the Bay Area, Alan lives in San Francisco with his family, which includes three dogs and a bunny.
Amanda brings over 20 years of experience in driving innovative PR programs to her role as Group Lead of SHIFT. In addition to growing and optimizing SHIFT’s team to do amazing work, she provides clients strategic and creative leadership, working side-by-side with executive management teams to build communications programs that deliver real business impact. She takes a solutions-oriented approach, pulling from her extensive experience working across the B2B technology landscape, from startups to global brands across sectors including workplace technology, IT security, robotics, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, cloud, customer engagement/experience, Internet of Things, and data analytics. She prides herself on giving honest counsel and taking a big-picture view to elevate her clients’ brand positioning.
Shawn Lowe brings a deep history of forging strategic partnerships to Time & Space. He not only leads the day-to-day operations at Time & Space, but also oversees its corporate strategy, driving sales and partnership initiatives. During his tenure with Time & Space, Shawn has provided strategic counsel to a diverse set of B2C and B2B industries, including Tourism, Cannabis, Financial Services, Lottery & Gaming, Consumer Packaged Goods, and many more. Prior to joining Time & Space, Shawn was the head of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) products for the Yellow Pages Group Canada, where he led the development and rapid growth of a product line utilized by thousands of Canadian SMB’s. Shawn’s expertise spans Product Development, G2M Strategy, Delivery, Strategic Direction, and beyond. Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree from the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. He is also an active mentor and a member of the Retail Media Committee with the IAB Canada.
Donna Alteen is the Founder and CEO of Time & Space. With over 35 years of experience, Donna is a highly accomplished leader who has steered her professional team and shaped the strategic vision of the organization amidst an ever-changing marketplace. Her expertise lies in collaborating with national and international brands in sectors such as Consumer Packaged Goods, Education, Tourism, Communications, and Entertainment, providing strategic insights and solutions. Donna’s educational background includes a Business degree from Acadia University, complemented by executive studies at renowned institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Rotman’s School of Management. In 2017, she achieved the ICD.D designation, further enhancing her credentials. She also actively participates in professional organizations and serves on the board for various community programs. She has been has recognized with a Women of Distinction Award for Entrepreneurship.
Gavin Megaw is the President and Managing Partner of the Hanover Group. A specialist in strategic communications, he is also responsible for the operations, growth, and integration of the Group’s 20+ service lines.
Gavin joined Hanover from The Football League, where he was Director of Marketing and Communications and The League’s primary broadcast spokesperson. He was previously a Board Director and Head of Corporate Communications and Issues Management at Fleishman-Hillard London. He started his career at the Conservative Party in the UK where he held a number of senior media roles, including heading up the Party’s rapid rebuttal operation.
Gavin is passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of sport and reducing societal inequality. He is honoured to be the Global Chair of parkrun, a charity with the objective of making the world healthier and happier.
Brian Pearl joined NATIONAL’s Toronto office in June 2022 as Vice-President and Practice Lead, Capital Markets and Investor Relations. He became Managing Partner in March 2023. Over the course of his career, Brian has worked on all sides of the Capital Markets – from advising on IPO strategies, to being the primary contact for investors and leading M&A activity. Brian has developed a collaborative, entrepreneurial and client-focused approach over the past two decades, serving as a Board Member with three fast growing Canadian companies, and a strategic advisor to numerous start-ups in the Canadian market. Prior to joining NATIONAL, he was Chief Operating Officer for Burlington-based Relm Cannabis. With his knowledge of Bay Street and his extensive operational experience, Brian’s insight and counsel is informed and in-demand. Brian works with NATIONAL clients across the country to help them solve their business challenges. Brian’s accomplishments were recognized with a Top 40 Under 40 award in 2015; he holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bishop’s University and a Paralegal designation from The Law Society of Upper Canada.
Managing Partner for Western Canada at NATIONAL Public Relations, Mark Seland has over 30 years of experience and is regarded as a trusted advisor on complex strategies and issues resolution to boards, CEOs, government and political leaders in Canada and the U.S.
Before joining NATIONAL in 2020, Mark was president and CEO of ABRIO Health, an organization striving to reconfigure public policy and structures in the community, healthcare, and social services to improve overall population health. Prior to this, he spent 17 years with Canadian Pacific Railway, leading the corporate communications team in U.S./Canada government engagement, marketing and internal communications, media relations, and crisis and community management, including acting as the internal executive communications advisor throughout the 2011/12 proxy contest.
Mark is an alumnus of Mount Royal University, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, and a regular lecturer on corporate culture, change management and extraordinary leadership. In his first year with the Firm, through a nomination by his colleagues, he received the AVENIR GLOBAL Visionary Leadership Model Award.
Kevin brings clarity to the complex. As Managing Partner at NATIONAL, he is focused on leading integrated teams to solve pressing challenges in the evolving communications landscape. He specializes in strategy, communications, and advocacy, and can be credited for leading transformational campaigns for clients across North America. He shares accountability leading the Atlantic Canadian region for NATIONAL and AVENIR GLOBAL’s corporate strategy on research, insights, and strategic planning. Kevin’s work encompasses both public and private sectors. His specialty areas include digital advocacy and strategy, earning social license, reputation management and recovery, investment and talent attraction, and strategic planning and facilitation. Kevin’s sector specific work over a 20-year period spans everything from energy, major infrastructure, and healthcare to consumer, B2B, financial services, and post-secondary. As a respected leader in digital innovation, he has guided organizations in defining value proposition, brand narrative, path to conversion, insights, organizational change, and issues management. Prior to joining NATIONAL, Kevin built a reputation as a strong leader through experience in roles at Grassroots Enterprise, a digital advocacy firm based in Washington D.C., and as SVP at Edelman Public Relations. Through his career path from developer to technologist, technologist to strategist, and strategist to lead counsel, he offers an exceptional perspective to organizations facing or driving change and opportunity.
Andrew Molson is chairman of AVENIR GLOBAL, an organization that he first joined as a consultant, in 1997. With headquarters in Montreal, AVENIR GLOBAL is a network uniting eight strategic communications firms across Canada, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, including NATIONAL Public Relations, AXON, Madano, SHIFT Communications, Padilla, Cherry, Hanover and Time & Space.
Andrew also serves on several boards of directors, including Molson Coors Beverage Company, Groupe Deschênes, Dundee Corporation, Theratechnologies and the CH Group, owner of evenko and the Montreal Canadiens, proud winner of 24 Stanley Cups.
He became a member of the Quebec Bar in 1995 after studying law at Laval University in Quebec City. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree from Princeton University and a masters of science in corporate governance and ethics from University of London (Birkbeck College).
Andrew participates on several non-profit boards, including the Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations, Concordia University Foundation, the evenko foundation for emerging talent, Business / Arts, the Québec Blue Cross and the Molson Foundation, a family foundation dedicated to the betterment of Canadian society.
Valérie Beauregard was named executive vice-president of AVENIR GLOBAL in 2013. She oversees corporate projects and issues related to the management of the Firm’s human resources policies, employee communications, professional development and branding programs. She is a member of AVENIR GLOBAL’s board of directors and sits on all our brands’ executive committees. Before joining the Firm over 20 years ago, as a financial communications consultant, she worked as a business reporter for a financial publication and as a journalist and marketing columnist at La Presse, North America’s largest French daily. She has a bachelor’s degree in commerce with a double major in finance and international business from McGill University.
Jean-Pierre Vasseur has been president and chief executive officer of AVENIR GLOBAL since January 1, 2009. Jean-Pierre joined the Firm in 1988, serving successively as chief financial officer, executive vice-president and later, president. He is a chartered accountant and graduate of McGill University. Before joining the Firm, he worked for a leading accounting firm. Jean-Pierre is a member of the board of directors of the Maison Emmanuel Foundation.
Charles Lewington founded Hanover in 1998 on the back of a high-profile career in Downing Street and political journalism. He was Press Secretary to John Major in the 1990s, handling some of the biggest political issues of the decade. Prior to that, he held senior management positions on a number of national newspapers, including the Sunday and Daily Express.
Charles provides strategic counsel to CEOs and senior communications executives at many of Hanover’s corporate and public affairs clients, including Microsoft, Sky, Tata Steel, Airbus and Goldman Sachs. He has particular expertise in integrated media and political campaigns, crisis management and litigation support and is an experienced business advisor, taking non-executive director roles in FMCG businesses.
Under his direction, Hanover Group grew from a staff of one to a team of 200 consultants, based in London, Brussels, Dublin and the Middle East. Hanover received the PRovoke Global Agency of the Decade award in 2020 and is one of Europe’s fastest growing independent consultancies.
Charles was awarded the OBE in 1997 for political services and is a regular broadcaster on the BBC, ITV and Sky News and commentator on FT.com, Conservative Home and the Huffington Post.
In 2023, Charles received a SABRE Individual Achievement award for his outstanding and lasting impact on the public relations and communications industry, and features on The Spear’s Reputation Managers Index.
Matt is a seasoned public relations, strategic communication and marketing professional, helping clients across a wide range of industries build, grow and protect their brands and reputations. Throughout his nearly 30 years in the field, he has been a continuous trend watcher, learner, educator and innovator – helping the agency and clients stay ahead of “what’s next.”Matt leads a highly talented and experienced leadership team supporting all of Padilla’s offices and brands. He also is a sought-after marketing, communication and business counselor with expertise in branding, corporate communication, reputation management, and crisis and critical issues response.Matt has planned and implemented strategic communication, brand building, and reputation management programs and projects for a wide range of Padilla clients, from global Fortune 500 enterprises to promising category challengers. Clients benefitting from Matt’s experience include Rockwell Automation, Mayo Clinic, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Be The Match, Tyco Retail Solutions, 3M, Valspar, Microsoft, Cisco and numerous others. He has extensive expertise in brand and reputation management, message development, thought leadership, integrated campaigns, new product and service launches, and major company transformations. He leads and facilitates brand strategy sessions as well as customer advisory council meetings.Matt is one of the agency’s primary liaisons to the Worldcom Public Relations group and served as global chair. He also is one of the agency’s highly requested executive media and presentation coaches.In his spare time, Matt is an adjunct faculty member for the Master’s in Strategic Communication program at the University of Minnesota and sits on the boards of Pheasants Forever and the Greater Twin Cities United Way. He is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society “Page Up” program and an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Gordon Taylor Lee was appointed Managing Partner of NATIONAL’s Ottawa office in February 2019. With over 20 years of public affairs and communications experience, Gordon comes to NATIONAL having served as a senior political staffer, an executive-level member of Canada’s federal public service, and private sector leader of a global, integrated communications and public affairs firm. Gordon is a former Senior Policy Advisor to Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister, Director of Policy to the federal Minister of Health, and political advisor to multiple campaigns. Gordon has also led management teams within various departments, including Health Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. He began his career with Global Affairs Canada, having served in the department’s North American Bureau and with Canada’s Consulate General in Seattle. Most recently, Gordon was Senior Partner and General Manager of FleishmanHillard’s Ottawa office, where he led accounts with key clients and Fortune 500 companies across numerous sectors, including finance, trade, healthcare, innovation, and manufacturing. Originally from British Columbia, Gordon holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria and a graduate degree from Queen’s University.
Michael is president and managing partner of Cherry and Madano. He joined the firm in 2008 as partner with senior-level experience and expertise in the energy and environmental sectors. Michael provides advice to clients in these sectors on strategic communication, research activity, government relations and stakeholder management in addition to issues and reputation management.Before joining Madano, Michael was Principal Private Secretary to the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser and spent five years providing presentational and policy advice across a range of issues ranging from climate change and energy policy to health and biotech.Michael was also involved in the 2003 and 2007 Energy White Papers and was part of the UK’s G8 team in 2005. He also advises the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford and has worked on a number of energy reports including A low carbon nuclear future and Towards a low carbon pathway for the UK – 2050 and beyond.
Combining the functions of President of NATIONAL Public Relations and Managing Partner of the Montreal office, Martin Daraiche joined NATIONAL Public Relations in 2008, later becoming a partner (2012), then managing partner of the Quebec City office (2017), and of the Toronto office (2022-2023).
Always engaged with our clients to bring his expertise to sensitive or complex matters, he focuses on the development and growth of the firm in Canada in collegiality with the managing partners of our nine offices from coast to coast.
From public affairs to issues and crisis management, Martin is renowned for his strategic vision and his exceptional ability to develop trust with clients, team members and all stakeholders involved in a project. A lawyer by trade and registered with the Quebec Bar since 2004, Martin holds a law degree from the University of Sherbrooke. Before joining NATIONAL, he was a political advisor for various ministries in the province of Quebec, as well as public and legal affairs advisor for the Premier of Quebec. Martin served on the board of directors of The Arthritis Society until 2019 and was a select member of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference in 2012.
As a positive and committed leader, Julie-Anne is driven by the most complex challenges, determined to support entrepreneurs and organizations from near to far in their growth and outreach. On a daily basis, she has the privilege of advising visionaries and inspiring leaders as well as assisting in the achievement of large-scale projects, by mobilizing teams or proposing creative ways to assist them in break through the sound barrier.With keen experience in crisis management, Julie-Anne will help in the preparation of dealing with the unexpected. She will “”navigate you through the storm”” and maintain your most precious asset: your reputation! Above all, your success is her personal objective!Julie-Anne has had an impressive career path and progression since joining NATIONAL in 2005. As a multidisciplinary strategist and attentive administrator with contagious energy, she was predestined to become the new Managing Partner of the Québec City office, already recognized for its high performance.
Royal Poulin joined AVENIR GLOBAL in 2003 and has been executive vice-president and chief financial officer since 2013. Prior to joining the Firm, Royal spent several years in the telecommunications and software industries and in corporate finance consulting. He obtained his CMA designation in 1996, later further developing his skills with a postgraduate degree in business valuation (charter business valuator, CBV) from York University. Royal then capped off his training with a Master of Finance from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Ralph specializes in advising companies within the healthcare sector on both brand and corporate communications strategies.Based in London, he works closely with clients from across the world to help design impactful communications plans to deliver the right message to the right people at the right point in a brand’s lifecycle.This often involves taking complex science and shaping a powerful story that can resonate with audiences as diverse as physicians, patients, regulators and investors. In addition, Ralph regularly advises clients on how they can effectively prepare for and manage issues and crises when they occur.
