2009–Present | Leon Mar, Communications & Human Rights Consulting | Toronto, Canada
Principal

Provide strategic consulting services in:
• Policy-focused research, writing and editing;
• Marketing-communications, branding and positioning;
• Public relations and stakeholder communications;
• Media relations; and
• Online communications and social media.

2008–2009 | OCAD University | Toronto, Canada
Director, Marketing & Communications

• Heading a department of eight staff members, created and implemented strategic marketing, communications and public-affairs plans and initiatives to realize the university’s strategic plan
• As a member of the university’s Executive Leadership Group, acted as a senior advisor to the President, members of the Cabinet and the Board of Governors
• Working with the relevant department heads, developed and implemented marketing and communications support for the university’s student-recruitment, development, cultural and public outreach activities
• Sat on the Ontario Universities’ Public Affairs Council (an affiliate of the Council of Ontario Universities) as the university’s principal representative

2005–2008 | Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network | Toronto, Canada
Director of Communications

• With a staff of two, directed media-relations, government-relations and public-communications activities, and acted as bilingual spokesperson on legal and human rights issues related to HIV/AIDS
• As a member of the Management Team, provided strategic and operational advice to the Executive Director and the President of the Board of Directors
• As a member of the Research & Policy Unit, engaged in hands-on policy-making and in strategically communicating this policy to different audiences

2003–2004 | The Senate of Canada | Ottawa, Canada
Publications Manager and Spokesperson, Communications Directorate

• Managed staff and contractors to develop, publish and distribute Senate publications, including its annual report, children’s brochure, fact sheets, and internal and external quarterly magazines
• In 2004, seconded to the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Québec City and Toronto to direct communications and media services

2000–2003 | PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada | Toronto, Canada
Senior Associate, National Marketing and Communications

• Project-managed the design, development, implementation and evaluation of e-business and multimedia marketing products
• Prepared digital-communication strategies, provided brand-management and proposal-support services, and managed internal client relationships
• In 2003, one of two Canadians seconded to Global Marketing and Communications in New York City as part of an international working group on “Connected Thinking,” PwC’s new positioning

1998–2000 | Consulate General of Canada | Sydney, Australia
Team Canada Project Manager and Immigration Program Officer

• As Team Canada Project Manager, coordinated the Prime Minister of Canada’s official visit to Australia with the Team Canada trade mission, and liaised directly between the Consul General and the Prime Minister’s Office
• As Immigration Program Officer, provided client and consular services to immigration applicants and Canadian citizens, respectively, and acted as French-language consultant to the Cultural and Public Affairs Section

1992–1997 | House of Commons | Ottawa, Canada
Parliamentary Page and Guide, Public Information Office

• As Page, provided support services to the Speaker, clerks, and members of the House of Commons, and encouraged interest in and raised awareness of youth in Parliament through presentations to various youth groups visiting Parliament Hill
• As Guide, promoted a positive image of Parliament by giving guided tours in English or French to diplomatic delegations, VIPs and the public