Judith started her career as a print journalist for The Vancouver Sun, and has carried that love of writing through 35 years in PR—working as a communications professional for educational organizations like the Knowledge Network, UBC and Kwantlen College, not-for-profit organizations such as The Arthritis Society and CGA-Canada, and most recently Senior Consultant with Peak Communicators, a downtown PR agency.
Now working as an independent practitioner, Judith offers communications, writing and strategic planning expertise, and serves as media relations manager for the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival every fall.
Shawn Hall,Former President
Senior Communications Manager, Media and Public Relations - TELUS
Shawn is responsible for TELUS’ media relations and issues management in British
Columbia. He has more than 15 years of
journalism and public relations experience.
Adam Grossman, Vice-President/Membership Marketing
Senior Media Relations Advisor Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)
Adam is the Senior Media Relations Advisor for ICBC. Prior to that, he spent three and a half years as the Media Consultant with Reputations Corporation. He has a decade of experience in media relations, communications and journalism in both Canada and the UK. On July 1, 2009, Adam will become a Canadian citizen but will keep his funny English accent.
Rashpal Rai
, Secretary/Treasurer
Public Relations Manager, Envirotest
Canada, contractor for AirCare
Rashpal has 10 years of experience in public relations and communications, primarily
in the corporate sector and public-private
partnerships. As public relations manager
for the AirCare vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance
program, he is responsible for all aspects of public relations
and communications, including media, government, and com
munity relations, and maintaining ongoing relationships with
internal and external stakeholders. He has been a member
of CPRS since 1999, and was a student member with CPRS
Vancouver Island. He served as Treasurer for CPRS Vancouver in 2007/08 and recently as Conference Vice-Chair and
Finance Chair for the CPRS 2009 National Conference – On
the Edge—held in Vancouver June 7– 9.
Kylie McMullan currently works at LifeScan Canada as an Assistant Brand Manager. Before joining the Johnson & Johnson family of brands, she served as the PR and advertising account executive at Nature’s Path Organic Foods, where she was responsible for the external communications, advertising and social media for Canada and the United States. She holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Communications for Simon Fraser University. Prior to returning to school, Kylie was an account executive at QUAY Strategies, where she provided communications counsel to clients such as Pacific Coast Terminals, BC Women’s Hospital and Brewers Distributors. Kylie has also worked for clients such as Bootlegger, Celestial Seasonings and Happy Planet Juice.
Michael Bernard, Communications Chair
Principal, Bernard Communications Consulting
Michael Bernard spent more than 25
years as a senior journalist, most of them
in Canadian Press, Canada’s national news
agency. Since leaving CP in 1995, he has
enjoyed stints in a major Vancouver PR agency, and as senior communications executive for the province’s securities regulator. He joined the CPRS Vancouver executive in 2007 and serves as chair of the CPRS Provincial Awards Committee. For 11 years, he has been on the board of trustees of the Jack Webster Foundation, which encourages excellence in journalism through its famed annual awards dinner and several other programs.
Larry retired as Western Vice President in 2007 from CNW Group after a career of more than 32 years. He joined CPRS as a National Member in 1978 and has been a Vancouver CPRS Board Member and Membership Chair for more than 20 years. Larry was a member of the organizing committee of the two past CPRS National Conferences in Whistler and Vancouver and chaired the Sponsorship Committee for these successful events.
Fawn Mulcahy,Independant Practitioners Chair
Marketing Communications & Public Relations Consultant
Fawn Mulcahy is a public relations pro fessional with over 18 years agency and client-side experience. Fawn is currently managing the Canwest Publishing Inc.Vancouver 2010 spon sorship and has worked on the Games with many different clients including the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation and VANOC (the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games).
Deborah Chatterton,Professional Development Chair (junior to mid-level)
Over 17 years, Deborah has put her Bachelor of Public Relations degree to work in four cities and for a variety of industries. She has worked in freelance journalism, marketing, public affairs, media relations and corporate communications. Before joining Vancity, Deborah was a Senior Communications Business Partner at TELUS, where she launched and oversaw several social media firsts, including a popular executive blog. Deborah was Co-Chair of the Promotions Committee for the 2009 CPRS national conference and has been a CPRS mentor for two years.
Joanna Wyatt, APR,Professional Development Chair (senior level)
Joanna’s first assignment after arriving in BC from university in Montreal was to shoot footage of bald-headed eagles on the Skeena River for the Terrace TV’s evening newscast. After mastering every aspect of television production, from editing to master control and even a stint as the weather girl, Joanna made the jump to television news at the former BCTV in Vancouver, now Global TV. She jumped again from media to media relations with BC TEL and then TELUS, where she spent 15 years with a front row seat to the transformation of the telecommunications industry. Now, Joanna is helping her clients tell their stories through her consulting company.
Susan has worked in Communications and Public Relations for more than 15 years, providing strategic and hands-on implementation with a variety industries and companies: technology, retail, real estate development, government and not-for-profit. Throughout her career, Susan has worked in corporate communications, marketing public relations, media relations, new media, community relations, crisis/issues management and investor relations Susan is currently working with Hoggan & Associates, BasicGov Systems Inc. and Icron Technologies. Other organizations Susan has worked with include Future Shop/ Best Buy Canada, PMC-Sierra, Leading Brands and Sierra Systems.
Alyn Edwards, Director, Speaker Series Chair
Vice President - Peak Communicator's
Alyn leads Peak Communicator’s media
training and video production group. A
veteran 30-year senior news reporter
(BCTV, CBC-TV) and journalist (Toronto
Telegram, freelance writer), he has literally
trained hundreds of senior executives and conducted
thousands of interviews. He has a nose for the news behind
the client’s front door and is expert in preparing clients for
the best and worst the media can bring to bear.
Alyn knows most of the senior news reporters in B.C.
personally, which goes a long way in providing media counsel
to clients. He is a long-time board member of the Boys
and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver and heads up the
organization’s communications committee
Marcelo Dominguez,Director, Event Marketing Chair Media Relations Manager, Consultant
Marcelo Dominguez holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Communications from Simon Fraser University and has over 10
years of marketing and communications
experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors.
Marcelo has been a media relations manager with the Laura
Ballance Media Group (LBMG) and the Canadian Cancer
Society’s B.C. and Yukon division. He’s been involved in numer
ous promotional campaigns, both locally and nationally, with
a variety of organizations and has led publicity outreach for
several leading brands.
Simon Briault, Volunteering Chair Manager of Communications, British Columbia Pharmacy Association
Simon Briault is the Manager of Communications for the British Columbia Pharmacy Association. Previously he was Deputy Head of Public Affairs for the Federation of Small Businesses, a not-for-profit lobby group and the UK's biggest business organization. Originally a print journalist with a financial publishing company, he has more than seven years of experience in journalism and communications in Canada and the UK. He has volunteered his communications expertise for charities involved in helping people with homelessness, disability and community theatre.
