About IABC Ottawa
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is a diverse global community working to advance the profession, create connection and develop strategic communicators. IABC Ottawa, established in 1976, is a community for professional communicators who want to thrive in their career. We’re a local organization with a global network to connect you to opportunities, resources, people and insights you need to drive business results.
IABC Ottawa is a fun, non-profit organization run by volunteer leaders. To connect the local community we offer a number of career development opportunities to help you learn and connect including: professional development events, networking events, special interest groups for members, Jobline, The Voice podcast, volunteer opportunities and more. This is your community, come join us!
Learn more about the learning and recognition opportunities offered nationally and internationally.
IABC Ottawa, established in 1976, is a community for professional communicators who want to thrive in their career. We’re a local organization with a global network to connect you to opportunities, resources, people and insights you need to drive business results.
Our members work across a variety of industries, from software to healthcare, and sit in junior and senior roles across communications, marketing, PR and more. IABC Ottawa is a fun, non-profit organization run by volunteer leaders. To connect the local community we offer a number of career development opportunities to help you learn and connect including: professional development events, networking events, special interest groups for members, Jobline, The Voice podcast, volunteer opportunities and more. This is your community, come join us!
Local and international volunteer opportunities to build your leadership skills, share your talents and create connections. Opportunities include serving on the chapter board, planning local professional development events, judging awards, being on an international committee to name a few.
About IABC International
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is a global network of communication professionals committed to improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communication.
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is a diverse global community working to advance the profession, create connection and develop strategic communicators. Established in 1970, IABC serves members in more than 70 countries for networking, career development and personal growth. Find out more about the benefits of being part of IABC on our Membership page.
“An organization with excellent internal communication will run smoothly, allowing its members to progress toward a mutual goal, which will ultimately affect the quality of external communication.”
Meet the 2021–2022 Board of Directors
IABC Ottawa is run by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Lauren has eight years of professional experience in communications. She graduated from Carleton University with a BA Honours in Communication Studies in 2014 and has held various communications positions at Carleton University, the British High Commission, and Colliers International. She currently works at ACFO-ACAF, a federal public service union for accountants, as the Manager of Communications and Membership Engagement. She is also a certified Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i 2.0) instructor and holds a Professional & Personal Coach Certification from Concordia University. Her Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation is in progress. In her spare time, she loves to read, travel, and jog!
Sherry is an innovative digital communicator who advises on social media strategy and countering false information in the online environment. She joined the federal public service in 2018 after working for six years as a multimedia journalist at CBC Ottawa, where she produced radio, television and online news. Sherry has been asked to speak publicly on issues connected to social media regulation, podcast creation, and the future of journalism. She has produced podcasts for Carleton University, The Ottawa Business Journal, and is the current host and producer of IABC Ottawa’s The Voice Podcast.
Alexandra Sebben, President
Digital Content and Communications Specialist
CARLETON UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN@alexandrasebben
Alexandra is an award winning communications professional with a specialization in digital marketing. She has created and executed successful digital strategies for high-profile organizations by creating innovative content campaigns. Alexandra holds a Master’s in Professional Communication and a BA in Media Production from Ryerson University’s internationally acclaimed RTA School of Media. She is an avid consumer of pop and internet culture and a self-proclaimed Twitter nerd.
Anu Sharma, Vice President, Leadership Development
Senior Consultant
PROSPECTUS ASSOCIATES@AsAnuSharma
With an extensive communications skill set and rich international experience, Anu Sharma has over 13 years of expertise in public relations. Some of her experiences include media relations, digital marketing, crisis, event and reputation management. Her analytics-driven approach and strategic thinking have contributed to her leading multiple award-winning PR campaigns across various sectors, including education, automotive, healthcare, technology, sports, consumer packaged goods, government and entertainment. In 2019, she was one of PR Moment India’s “30 under 30,” recognized for her contributions to the public relations profession. She is a proud ACPR (Algonquin College Public Relations) alum. Apart from her commitment to the communications world, travelling, dancing, cooking and spending time with her family make Anu happy.
Alisha is a highly motivated, passionate and strategic communication professional, with over 13 years of experience conceptualizing and executing dynamic marketing and communication campaigns that drive meaningful results. She recently graduated with a Master of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and she holds a Communications degree from Simon Fraser University.
Alisha spent the last nine years at CBC Calgary and CBC Saskatoon, developing local and national communication, marketing and public relations campaigns to drive audience growth objectives while building strategic and engaging partnerships. Before CBC, Alisha’s career started in consulting with Cornerstone Planning Group, where she implemented stakeholder and community engagement programs for a broad range of public and private sector clients in the lower mainland. Since moving to Ottawa, Alisha has gone back to her consulting roots, she is a Senior Communications Advisor at CBC/Radio-Canada and Director of Strategy at Vision2Voice.
Born and raised in Vernon BC, Alisha has also lived in Kelowna, Vancouver, Saskatoon and Calgary (and has served on IABC boards in BC, Saskatoon and Calgary) – she’s excited to be a new Ottawan and has been enjoying the cycling, paddleboarding, dog parks and small town road trips since she’s arrived.
Alex Forbes, Vice President, Website
Marketing Communications Advisor
Accurate Creative@alexRYPforbes
Alex has over 12 years of experience with integrated marketing strategy, digital analytics and project management. He graduated from Algonquin College in the Advertising program in 2010. Over the last decade and a bit, he spent time with the Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Senators, CCA, Pointer Creative and Accurate Creative holding various roles in communications. Receiving his Scrum Master’s certification in 2016, he went on to manage multiple award-winning websites & eCommerce projects. He brings a strong proficiency in providing creative marketing solutions that focus on user experience, brand engagement and online acquisitions.
In his spare time, Alex loves all things sports (especially hockey and golf), family, DIY home projects, and always hunting down the world’s best poutine.
Patrick is a communications professional with nine years of experience. He has offered strategic counsel to Ontario cabinet ministers in crisis situations and led results-driven communications strategies for clients at a PR agency. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped establish the Toronto Financial District Business Improvement Area (BIA) as a trusted advocate for business members and a reassuring source of information for their 250,000+ employees.
Patrick moved to Ottawa in 2020 and currently works for Fulbright Canada. He’s lived and worked in five cities throughout his career: Osaka, Japan; London, England; Toronto; Calgary; and now Ottawa.
Roselie’s passion for communications in the political sphere pulled her from the mountains of the West Coast to the nation’s capital. In Vancouver, Roselie was part of the public relations and marketing team for a Vancouver start-up that quickly rose to the forefront of its industry. She also lent her skills and resourcefulness to several non-profit organizations, providing content creation and planning services. Currently, Roselie works as an Account Director at spark*advocacy – a public affairs, communications, and digital marketing agency in Ottawa. Roselie holds a master’s degree from the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management at Carleton University and a post-graduate certificate in public relations from Humber College.
Sandra Caya, Vice President, Professional Development
Director, Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs
Canadian Institute of Actuaries
Sandra has over 15 years of experience in strategic communications management and partnership development with a focus on publishing, marketing, and outreach in government, non-profit, multidisciplinary, and global environments. With a Bachelor of Humanities from Carleton and a Master of Publishing from Simon Fraser, she started her career by working several years for the federal government in publications and editorial services. The wider world called, and she left Canada to spend almost a decade abroad, working on global climate and conservation communications and policy portfolios, based in Indonesia and Switzerland. Now back home in Ottawa, she has settled into a role with a non-profit association focused on building up the brand of actuaries and socio-economic policy change in Canada. She loves reading, gardening, and spending time with her husband, teenagers, and pet cockatiels.
Rafael Dezordi, Director, Communications
SOCIAL MEDIA ADVISOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
Export Development Canada@rcdezordi
Rafael Dezordi is a communications professional, specialized in international communications and stakeholder management within the academic and scientific fields, with a focus on promoting positive change and handle complex global information issues. He has an extensive experience in digital marketing, content creation and brand amplification, through graphic design, web content design, social media outreach, e-newsletters, video editing and podcast broadcasting/publishing. He holds a M.A. in International Affairs, with a specialization in International Economic Policy, from The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) at Carleton University and an LL. B. (Bachelor of Laws) from the Federal University of Parana.
Meet our Volunteers
International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Ottawa is a fun, non-profit organization run by volunteer leaders. To connect the local community of communicators, we offer a number of career development opportunities to help you learn and connect including: professional development events, networking events, special interest groups for members, Jobline, The Voice podcast, volunteer opportunities and more.
This is your community, come join us!
Current Volunteer Openings at IABC Ottawa
If you are interested to be a volunteer with us, please send your resume to leadershipdevelopment@ottawa.iabc.com and emailanunsharma@gmail.com
Please indicate the role you are interested in, from the list below:
Director of Member Relations
Key responsibilities include:
- Finding and booking a small space for nine people
- Finding and coordinating with a speaker
- Coordinating the waiting list.
Reporting to: Patrick Burke, VP, Membership
Communications team
We are looking for four volunteers to help with our communications portfolio.
Titles:
- Director, Graphic Design
- Director, Social Media
- Director, Newsletter
- Director, Multimedia
Assets:
People who are eager to learn, interested in and active on social media, and keen on wearing different hats.
Key responsibilities include:
- Writing and promotion of social media content.
- Creating graphics and designs on Canva.
- Collecting and curating content for the newsletter.
Reporting to: Erica Principe, VP Communications.
Priscilia O. Kabengele,
Membership Engagement, Members Connect
Priscilia Odia Kabengele just received a specialized bachelor’s degree in public relations and communications from the University of Ottawa and College La Cité -with honors-. She will be pursuing her career in the Government of Canada. She likes reading and testing new technologies. She is interested in the contribution of new media to public and organizational communications. She will volunteer in the members Connect Program.
Anna Buczek,
Director, Member Relations
Anna Buczek is an accomplished project management and events professional with nearly 20 years of experience working within the communications profession in healthcare, the non-profit sector, and academia. Currently working at The Ottawa Hospital, she is responsible for planning and delivering events and recognition initiatives for hospital staff. A passionate advocate for clear, concise communication and life-long learning, Anna currently volunteers her time and lends her expertise to the IABC Ottawa Membership Team, connecting with new members and planning member-centered events.
Tinsae W.,
Director, Leadership Development
Tinsae is a passionate storyteller who recently completed her diploma in public relations from Algonquin College. Enthusiastic about helping others and the planet, Tinsae worked for a nature NGO and she’s now working in the public engagement space. Tinsae has worked closely with nature-loving volunteers to improve their communications skills so that they can reach out to their communities.
During college, Tinsae was a part of a successful charity campaign that raised over $10,000 over a one-month period. Tinsae also supported virtual networking sessions titled Network for Growth. Prior to pursuing public relations, Tinsae received a bachelor’s degree in biology and a certificate in digital communications from Western University.
Lesly Quintal ,
Assistant Producer, Digital Programming Team
Lesly is an outgoing and ambitious self-starter with strong public relations and networking skills. As a recent Honours graduate of the Algonquin College Public Relations program, she brings a fresh perspective and tech savvy wit to each new project or team.
Passionate about digital marketing and communications strategy she approaches new challenges with a farsighted problem-solving perspective and optimistic outlook. Her ability to listen and understand an audience, coupled with her strong analytical and critical thinking skills allow her to clearly articulate complex concepts to any audience.
Lesly has the ability to lead with compassion and the flexibility to be a strong team player. Driven by her core values of caring, learning, integrity, and respect, using her strong moral compass to guide her journey in her new roles within the industry.
Megha Jha,
Director, Leadership Development
Megha Jha is an active leadership, development volunteer at IABC where she is responsible for assisting in volunteer management through coordinating volunteer engagement events and outreach activities. She has a major in Public Relations from Algonquin College and bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Lovely Professional University in India. Driven by performance, she takes pride in providing the best work possible.
In addition to her current position at IABC, she also volunteers at Khalsa Aid Canada as communications manager and manages media relations, coordinating with local nonprofits to collaborate for community service projects in the city. In her free time, she enjoys cooking Indian food for her family and friends.
Lubna Ahmed Hussein,
Content Development
Lubna is a self-motivated and communications professional with 12 years of experience in journalism, community mobilization, outreach and public information in a developing country.
She pursued an interdisciplinary education that includes a postgraduate diploma in communication, B.Sc. (Honor) in Agriculture Sciences, a diploma in Public Relations and Press from abroad. Also, in Canada, she obtained a certificate from Algonquin College in Electronic Business Management. Now, she enrolled as a full-time PR student in the Public Relations program at Algonquin College.
Lubna is a long-life learner. After her move to Canada, Lubna started from scratch as her work experience was in a different language and environment. She worked as a language teacher with well paid, but she has not forgotten her first field.
Although Lubna holds a diploma in Press and Public Relations from abroad, she decided to redo it to update her knowledge and adapt technical skills to suit the new media and practice PR work in developed countries.
Lubna is interested in women’s human rights issues. She came to international attention in July 2009 when she was prosecuted for wearing trousers. Lubna has used her communication skills to get local and global media support to attack ridiculous restrictions on women’s rights in Sudan. She successfully directed one of the most effective campaigns to support women’s rights in her country of birth. Lubna speaks English and Arabic, and she enjoys gardening in the community gardens here in Ottawa.
Camila Trujillo,
Director of Events
Camila is a dedicated PR & Communications professional with over 5 years of experience in media monitoring and analysis. As a former graduate from the University of Guelph, she’s worked with local, and international businesses throughout research and marketing campaigns.
Camila also leads the sales development team at Fullintel with their innovative outreach campaigns, as well as marketing programs including events, sponsorships, and community outreach. Especially in communications, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies to expand their media monitoring reporting and insights. IABC has always been an important association to grow as a communications professional, and she is ready to help the Canadian chapters expand this season.
Past Presidents of IABC Ottawa
2020-2021 – Kayla Isabelle
2019-2020 – Kristina Martin
2018-2019 – Samantha Rae-Ayoub
2017-2018 – Kaleigh Maclaren
2016-2017 – Dominique Jolicoeur
2015-2016 – Sherrilynne Starkie
2014-2015 – Tara Lapointe
2013-2014 – Jennifer Birch
2012-2013 – Kelly Rusk
2011-2012 – Kerry Mortimer
2010-2011 – Sandra Markus
2009-2010 – Sandra Markus
2007-2008 – Doug Wotherspoon
2005-2006 – Gord McIntosh
2004-2005 – Malcolm Bernard
2002-2003 – Isabelle Perreault
2003-2004 – Stephen Goban
2000-2001 – Katherine Power
2001-2002 – Wendy Cherwinski
1998-1999 – Stephen Boissonneault
1999-2000 – Beth Green
1996-1997 – Mark Giberson
1997-1998 – Ellen Henderson, ABC
1994-1995 – Darrin Shewchuk
1995-1996 – Kate Low
1992-1993 – Sue Rutherford, ABC
1993-1994 – Moria King
1990-1991 – Christine Tausig
1991-1992 – Cathy Sabiston
1988-1989 – Peter Johansen
1989-1990 – Freda Fraser
1986-1987 – Don Reimer, ABC
1987-1988 – Mark Giberson
1984-1985 – Richard Chambers
1985-1986 – Rick Green, ABC,MC*
1982-1983 – Catherine Mason
1983-1984 – Oxana Sawka, ABC
1980-1981 – Dave Esler, ABC
1981-1982 – Christopher Bunting, ABC, MC, IABC Fellow*
1979-1980 – Jan Logan
1978-1979 – Joel Levesque
1976-1977 – Lorne Darlington
1977-1978 – Rick Green, ABC, MC*
1975 – Lucille Tessier
1976 – Lorne Darlington
*deceased
ABC = Accredited Business Communicator
MC = Master Communicator
Join Us
We are an organization of professional communicators who work toward advancing careers of individual members as well as advancing the communications field as a whole.
Membership with IABC/Ottawa includes access to a network of local members, professional development workshops, meet-ups, webinars and more.
JOIN NOW
