PIC Chair and VP, Special Interest Groups, IABC/Toronto
Andrea Walasek (she/her)
Andrea is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in communications and public relations. Known for her expertise in crafting and executing PR strategies, she excels in delivering strong, clear and consistent messaging. Her diverse career spans federal and regional governments, the education sector and a boutique communications agency.
Andrea currently works as a Public Relations Consultant for the County of Simcoe. Previously, she was the Manager of Communications & Relationship Management at the Upper Canada District School Board and spent nine years as Communications Assistant to a Canadian federal Cabinet Minister.
Andrea is a firm believer in the power of volunteering in her community to create greater opportunities for future generations.
PIC Chair responsibilities:
- Lead a team of volunteers to meet the professional development, networking and marketing needs of local independent communicators
- Lead PIC executive meetings
- Assist with executing PIC events
- Represent PIC to the IABC/Toronto board and the public
Past Chair
Marie-Lauren Gregoire-Drummond, SCMP (she/her)
Marie-Lauren, aka MLGD, is a professional communicator, spoken word poet, speaker and published author. She is Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations at the Alliance for Healthier Communities as well as principal consultant at MLG Creative Communications.
MLGD has provided strategic communications support to organizations in healthcare, education, child welfare and community and social services. She is a motivational speaker, facilitates public speaking workshops and performs poetry. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Western University, a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) and is certified as a Strategic Communications Management Professional.
PIC Past Chair responsibilities:
- Stand in for PIC chair when she cannot attend a PIC function
- Participate in PIC executive meetings
- Provide input on PIC events and activities
- Share news about PIC events and activities and contribute to conversations on social media
Co-Directors of Communications & Social Media
Brent Artemchuk (he/him)
Brent is a senior leader with expertise in global brand management, internal/external communications, marketing communications, media/public relations and change management in both B2B and B2C environments.
During his 20 years of experience, he’s created a successful track record of developing digital and traditional programs that promote stakeholder engagement, increase brand awareness and deliver against strategic objectives. Brent loves to lead transformational change and provide senior executives with advice on how to build organizations of value while mitigating risk. Brent currently works at TD Bank where he manages strategic change programs, organizational effectiveness and inclusion and diversity initiatives.
Sue Horner, SCMP (she/her)
Sue loves to be the “go-to” writer for small communications teams who need writing that has warmth and personality.
Sue launched Get It Write in 1991 and has used her experience as a corporate communications professional to help companies connect with their employees. She is particularly known for turning complicated, dense information into something people want to read. Clients appreciate Sue’s ability to find the human angle in any story, capture the essence of a discussion and provide a fresh perspective on a routine subject.
Sue has a BA in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University and is certified as a Strategic Communications Management Professional.
Communications & Social Media responsibilities:
- Plan, develop and maintain communication with PIC members so they receive high-quality, timely information about the programs, services and benefits of PIC
- Generate PIC-related content for IABC/Toronto e-Lerts
- Edit and design the monthly PIC newsletter, The Buzz
- Help promote PIC, its members and events on social channels (X, LinkedIn and Facebook)
Co-Directors of Programming
Catharine Heddle (she/her)
Catharine is an award-winning independent communications strategist, writer and project manager. Clients turn to her for smart counsel, insights and results they can count on.
Through her company, Lamplighter Communications, Catharine provides independent communications consulting services with a specialty in corporate, internal and leadership communications. Catharine helps clients build meaningful, trusting connections with the people whose opinions, actions and support matter to them. From there, she works with her clients to engage, inform, inspire and motivate those people. She is available for communications projects, interim or fractional team leadership and support.
Trish Tervit (she/her)
Trish left her corporate career in 2022 and launched Tervit Communications to focus full-time on working with purpose-led clients focused on making a difference in the world. Her roster includes businesses in a range of sectors with a particular emphasis on sustainability and financial services.
Trish is an award-winning journalist with a decade of news reporting experience who shifted into public relations and corporate communications mid-career. Her consultancy services include strategic communications, key message development, media training and media relations.
She is a proud alumna of the Graduate Diploma program in Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the University of Toronto’s St. Michael’s College.
Programming responsibilities:
- Create and manage professional development and social events across the PIC calendar
- Attract new members and existing members to re-engage with the group
- Position PIC as the go-to group for independents when learning new trends as a communication professional
- Encourage continued conversation and resource sharing outside PIC events
Director of Membership
Kathryn Hollinrake (she/her)
Kathryn has been a professional photographer in Toronto for over 25 years and specializes in photographing people for business, branding and communications. From individuals (including some of Canada’s favourite authors) to large companies (including some of Canada’s largest financial institutions), clients rely on her for her energy, creativity, skill and experience. She is an expert at photographing people who don’t like to be photographed, so they end up loving the process and the results.
Kathryn joined IABC/Toronto and PIC in March 2022 and quickly became actively involved. She wishes she’d joined sooner.
Membership responsibilities:
- Welcome new PIC members
- Promote PIC membership within and outside of IABC/Toronto
- Communicate IABC/Toronto chapter benefits to non-members
- Promote networking connections at PIC events