I enjoy strategic and principled problem solving. Over two decades in policy, law, and business, I have addressed complex challenges by generating value and alignment out of differences in culture and opinion.
I have led public and private sector teams responsible for economic policy, legal, legislative affairs, strategy, and communications. I am most effective at executive and advisory work at the intersection of these areas, bringing together insights across disciplines.
I currently help organisations to address political risk, to adapt to change, and to excel at advocacy, negotiation, and clear communication.
I grew up surrounded by people from a wide range of cultures. That helped me understand different perspectives. I also realised that my experiences, and those of many around me, included exposure to long-lasting consequences of major political risk events.
Understanding what can go wrong makes me determined to help people, including decision-makers, to build trust, and to prepare for and adapt to change.
My interest in stable institutions serving different cultures led me to study both the common law and civil law systems in English and French at McGill University. I completed a master's degree in negotiation, economic and political decision-making at Harvard University.
I am motivated to keep learning and improving.
This site is an invitation to collaborate, view updates on my work, and read about the challenges and opportunities that leaders face when managing change across cultures and amidst multiple sources of risk and opportunity.
Experience
Policy
I have advised heads of government and ministers while managing teams that drafted and communicated successful policies. I have also advised institutional, individual, and family clients on policy change and adaptation in the context of emerging political risks.
Early in my career, I planned the communication of the federal government's top policies across several departments. This work helped people understand the government's intentions, priorities, and successes. Media coverage improved, and the government unexpectedly won a majority at the next election.
The success of this team effort created opportunities to develop signature policies that I cared about by building alliances across different regions, cultures, and approaches to governing.
I enjoyed developing highly-acclaimed reforms that improved the immigration system's economic and social outcomes, reduced backlogs and wait times, and maintained stable levels and public confidence.
At Industry Canada, I worked to strengthen the links between national security and economic regulation, including international investment law reforms.
Later, as an executive director in the Ministry of Finance, I led a dedicated team working across fiscal and economic policy to set the Ontario government on course for its first credit rating upgrade in decades.
LEGAL
Legal experience from private practice and public service enables me to develop sound policies and business strategies and to quickly identify and resolve issues.
I served as lead legal counsel to hundreds of successful individual, family, and institutional clients in international trade, investment, immigration, and regulatory matters.
I have also worked as a member of highly-rated law firm teams advising on corporate finance and competition law, identifying business risks, and negotiating contracts and transactions.
As a director responsible for legal affairs, I advised the federal government on the strategic implications of emerging public law issues, litigation, and legislation.
I worked closely with our institutions of justice as the federal government's advisor on the application of the judicature sections of the constitution and the appointment of judges.
Early in my career, I provided legal research to support judges deciding complex cases at the Court of Appeal for Québec.
I worked as a researcher in public law and international commercial law at McGill University, where I was also a law journal editor and a member of a French competitive moot team. I was called to the bar in Québec and Ontario.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Building on longstanding community traditions of entrepreneurship, I have been interested or involved in business for as long as I can remember.
My experience leading and solving problems across disciplines and cultures helps to identify and address risks and opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed.
As a co-founder and business operator, I managed a team that opened new markets and significantly increased earnings.
I also led the successful turnaround of a professional services practice through client service excellence and strategic insight. Results obtained for each fully onboarded client met or exceeded the objectives set out early in each engagement.
Recently, I have helped private and public sector organisations find and solidify financing and revenue, control costs, reduce risks, and improve their balance sheets.
I welcome inquiries regarding advisory work and business ventures.