Cover Image for NextGen 2025:Shaping the Future of Public Affairs Today
Cover Image for NextGen 2025:Shaping the Future of Public Affairs Today

NextGen 2025:Shaping the Future of Public Affairs Today

Hosted by Natasha Morano & Stepanie Mitton
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About Event

Description:

Join us for our second annual national professional development event tailored for the public affairs and government relations sector, from those just starting out to seasoned professionals. It’s a chance to connect, learn, and advance your career through professional development, insightful sessions, and networking opportunities. 


Draft Agenda:

7:45 am - 8:15 am - Networking, Coffee & Tea and Pastries

8:15 am - 8:30 am - Opening Remarks

  • Mona Fortier, MP | Ottawa-Vanier, Chief Government Whip 

  • Stephanie Mitton, Founder and CEO, Beacon North Strategies and Co-Founder & Host NextGen

  • Natasha Hope Morano, Founder & President, NHM Connect & Co-Founder & Host NextGen

8:30 am - 9:10 am - Navigating Public Affairs: A Global Perspective

  • Maryscott (Scotty) Greenwood, Global Head of Government Relations, Manulife Financial Corporation

9:10 am - 9:50 am - Recent Developments in the Canadian Lobbying Regime & Looking Ahead to the Next Federal Election

  • Nancy Bélanger, Canada’s Commissioner of Lobbying 

  • Hunter Doubt, Manager, Government & Corporate Affairs - Canada, Expedia Group; President, Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC)

9:50 am - 10:15 am - How to Read the Federal Budget

  • Robert Asselin, Senior Vice President, Policy, Business Council of Canada

10:15 am - 10:30 am - Break

10:30 am - 11:10 am -  Leveraging Polling for Advocacy: Why Bringing the Public Into Your Advocacy is More Important Than Ever

  • David Coletto, Founder, Chair & CEO, Abacus Data

11:10 am - 11:50 am - AI in Public Affairs: Examining the Application of AI in the Political Landscape

  • Chris Moffatt Armes, Founder, PoliTraQ 

  • Murray Simser, Founder and CEO, CITIZN

  • Stephanie Mitton, Founder & CEO, Beacon North Strategies and Co-Founder & Host NextGen

11:50 am - 12:35 pm - Communications in a Shifting Landscape: From Prorogation to Election Readiness

  • Laryssa Waler Hetmanczuk, Managing Partner, Henley Strategies 

  • Carlene Variyan, Associate Vice President of Summa Strategies

  • Melanie Paradis, President, Texture Communications

  • Moderated by: Kathleen Monk, President of Monk + Associates

12:35 pm - 1:00 pm - Networking and Lunch Service


Afternoon Networking and Learning

1:00 pm - 1:50 pm - Ask the Expert: What to Expect with the Upcoming Election

  • Mona Fortier, MP | Ottawa-Vanier, Chief Government Whip 

  • Yaroslav Baran, Partner, Co-Founder, Pendulum

  • Hamish Marshall, Partner, One Persuasion

  • Mary-Rose Brown, Chief of Staff to Minister, Public Services and Procurement Canada

  • Moderated by: Idee Inyangudor, Vice President Global Partnerships, Wellington Advocacy

1:50 - 2:00 pm - Closing Remarks

  • Natasha Hope Morano, Founder & President, NHM Connect & Co-Founder & Host NextGen

  • Stephanie Mitton, Founder and CEO Beacon North Strategies and Co-Founder & Host NextGen

2:00 pm - Event Ends


Event Hosts:

Natasha Hope Morano 
President, NHM Connect
Co-Founder & Host NextGen 


Stephanie Mitton
Founder & CEO Beacon North Strategies
Co-Founder & Host NextGen & WOMENdontDOthat

Advisory Committee:

Alexis Easton, President, Public Affairs Association of Canada (PAAC); Chief Public Affairs Officer & Board Secretary, Royal Ontario Museum

Hunter Doubt, Manager, Government & Corporate Affairs - Canada, Expedia Group; President, Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC)

Denise Siele, Chair, Province of Ontario, Lincoln Alexander Awards, Senior Advisor, Artful Strategies.

Stephanie Delorme, Chief Operating Officer, Rubicon Strategy Inc.

Megan Buttle, National Digital Lead, Earnscliffe Strategies

David Coletto, Chief Executive Officer, Abacus Data

Hardave Birk, Director, Government Relations, Rogers Communications; Vice-President, Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC)


Thank You To Our Event Partners:

Location
The Westin Ottawa
11 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9H4, Canada
Confederation II Ballroom - Level 4