Insight. Experience. Results.
Our focus is on creating solutions.
At Sutherland, our focus is on creating solutions that resolve public affairs challenges so that you can focus on maximizing opportunities in the Canadian marketplace. We tailor solutions that meet each client’s unique needs, paving the way for effective project management and communications with government decision makers, internal audiences and key stakeholders.
In Western, Central and Atlantic Canada, labour organizations, not-for-profits, domestic enterprises and multi-national corporations rely on us to overcome communications hurdles as well as municipal, provincial or federal barriers.
Government Relations
We understand the when, whom and how of approaching decision makers.
Our government relations professionals and public policy experts connect with key stakeholders and guide clients through complex legislative and regulatory environments. With former elected officials as well as ministerial, parliamentary and municipal staff members on our team, we have direct experience in government.
We understand the when, whom and how of approaching decision makers to inform policies. We know how to construct the right message and we are experienced in driving policy change.
Municipal Public Affairs
Providing a unique approach to
consensus-building.
Consensus building at the municipal level is a daunting task for most and few venture into this complex maze of competing agendas and complicated bureaucracies. Yet, it’s what Sutherland does best.
With direct oversight by founder and President Paul Sutherland, our team works in Toronto, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), and all major urban centres in Canada to offer our clients unique perspectives on City Hall.
Strategic Communications
Managing the issues most important to your reputation and success.
Proactive communication has never been more important than in today’s world of multiple stakeholders and competing messages. We work with your organization to identify key audiences, focus your message, create earned media opportunities and develop engaging collateral.
Through issues management, public relations, social media, stakeholder engagement and grassroots advocacy experience, we develop comprehensive communications strategies that support municipal and government relations efforts and get your message across to the right audience.
Team
Since 2008, Sutherland has prided itself on our client-focused approach. We have an enviable record of guiding clients through the complexities of government policy and bureaucracy, connecting the right people in the right way and developing communications strategies that deliver results.
I am proud to introduce a team as diverse in its experience as our client base and as dedicated to individual client success today as the day Sutherland signed its first account.
Paul Sutherland, President & CEO
Paul Sutherland
President & CEO
Dan Bordonali
Executive Vice-President & COO
Monika Bujalska
Vice-President, Public Affairs
Emma Hunt
Tina Li
Director of Finance
Pat Perkins
Executive Strategic Advisor
Zeinab Saidoun
Manager, Media & Digital Communications
Manny Sousa
Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations
Melanie Sutherland
Director of Public Affairs, Western Canada
Paula Tessier
Atlantic Canada
Kevin Whyte
Director of Government Relations
John Campbell
Executive Strategic Advisor
President & CEO
Paul Sutherland
As President and CEO, Paul provides strategic leadership to a team of experienced government relations, communications and project management professionals located across Canada, serving a wide range of domestic and international clients.
Paul specializes in advising corporate and not-for-profit clients on complex government relations issues and developing strategies that effectively navigate increasingly regulated municipal, provincial and federal environments.
Paul’s background is in business development and municipal government.
He was first elected as a North York City Councillor in 1985 and then re-elected for four consecutive terms. He served as Deputy Mayor, budget lead, Chair of the Economic Development Committee, Chair of Public Works Committee and Chair of the Executive Committee of Council.
Appointed to the Toronto Transition Team by the Premier of Ontario in 1997, Paul led the strategy development to amalgamate seven municipal budgets, governance frameworks and parking authorities, to fulfill the province’s mandate and merge seven municipal government into what is now the City of Toronto.
After leaving municipal government, Paul launched his consulting career and in 2008 founded Sutherland, quickly establishing the company as a premier municipal public affairs and government relations practice.
Mobile: 416 788 1288
Executive Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer
Dan Bordonali
Dan is one of Sutherland’s founding members. He has been instrumental to the firm’s growth and now provides oversight to strategy development for municipal public affairs and government relations clients.
He has successfully consulted on municipal files dealing with the City of Toronto as well as major municipalities across Canada. Experienced in a variety of sectors, Dan’s scope of client work includes transit, transportation, municipal development, labour relations and infrastructure.
Prior to joining Sutherland in 2008, Dan served as a senior policy advisor at Toronto City Hall. He brings over 14 years of municipal government experience, including managing several municipal portfolios at the City of Toronto, such as development, infrastructure and transportation.
Mobile: 416 716 9776
Vice-President, Public Affairs
Monika Bujalska
An experienced cross discipline professional, Monika offers a broad perspective and innovative solutions to public affairs challenges.
Monika brings over 15 years of issues management, communications and stakeholder experience at the municipal, provincial and federal levels of government.
She served in senior communications and issues management roles for Canada’s Minister of International Trade, the Ontario Power Authority, members of the official opposition in the finance and economic development portfolios, as well as at Toronto City Hall. Her expertise is in developing communications and issues management strategies in complex policy areas with diverse stakeholders.
Prior to joining Sutherland, Monika served as a consultant advising clients on a wide range of policy portfolios including finance, revenue, municipal affairs and housing, economic development, energy, labour, advanced training and skills development and tourism.
Monika graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Degree in Political Science and Economics.
Mobile: 647 625 8401
Director of Strategic & Business Communications
Emma Hunt
As Director of Strategic & Business Communications, Emma is responsible for developing and implementing social media and communications strategies that support municipal affairs and government relations initiatives.
Emma joined Sutherland in 2015. Since then she’s been an integral member of the team, contributing her experience in traditional and digital communications to clients in a variety of sectors including entertainment, technology, infrastructure and public administration. She is directly involved in strategic communications planning and implementation, social media strategy development and oversight, stakeholder outreach and media relations.
Emma holds a Bachelor Degree in Political Studies from Queen’s University and a Postgraduate diploma in Corporate Communications and Public Relations from Seneca College.
director of finance
Tina Li
As Manager of Finance, Tina is responsible for analyzing every day financial activities while providing advice and guidance to upper management on future financial plans.
Prior to joining Sutherland, Tina was an accounting manager at a construction company. She also worked for a software company where she acquired extensive experience in system migration and acquisition integration. Tina uses this experience to provide financial reports and interpret financial information to management staff.
Mobile: 647 891 4890
Executive Strategic Advisor
Pat Perkins
Pat is a proven leader in government and public relations, strategic planning, public policy and labour relations.
Pat brings over 30 years of political and government experience. For eight years she served as the Mayor of the Town of Whitby – the first woman elected for that office. Following her municipal career, Pat was then elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for the riding of Whitby/Oshawa.
Pat has also been a member of the board of directors of the Whitby Hydro Corporation, Durham Region Non Profit Housing Corporation, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, Durham Children’s Aid Society and the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre for Children and Youth.
Pat’s extensive experience in governance includes labour relations experience at the (then) City of Scarborough, where she served as President of CUPE local 545 and was elected chairperson of the Central Advisory Committee (CAC), formulating strategy and conducting central bargaining for all of the CUPE locals in Metropolitan Toronto.
Residing in Whitby, Pat is an active Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Whitby and is a Paul Harris Fellow.
Mobile: 905 706 8215
Manager of Media & Digital Communications
Zeinab Saidoun
As part of the Strategic Communications team, Zeinab drives social and digital media strategies. With a background in broadcast media, Zeinab also contributes to the development of communications plans, stakeholder relations, media outreach and research.
Zeinab joins Sutherland from CTV News Channel, where she worked as as a Chase Producer. Her experience also includes CP24 Breakfast Television and the CBC, as well as content development and media relations at Ryerson’s DMZ.
Zeinab holds a Bachelor Degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Ryerson University.
Mobile: 289 500 9955
Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations
Manny Sousa
Manny brings over 20 years of experience in municipal public affairs and stakeholder relations.
In his previous role as Manager, Community & Municipal Relations at Enbridge Gas Distribution, Manny managed relationships with key stakeholders including municipalities and elected officials, first responders, community organizations and sector associations. He oversaw the development of municipal and community relations strategies and developed province wide programs such as the Low Income Energy Assistance program (LEAP), Project Zero and Project Assist.
At Sutherland, Manny has successfully consulted on a variety of files in a wide range of policy areas, including include energy, transportation, infrastructure, casino and entertainment, development and public safety.
Manny lives in Scarborough Ontario, where he is involved with the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization and sits on the Economic Development Committee. He also sits on the Board of Directors for ACSA, a community services organization based in Scarborough.
Manny is the past Chair of the Scarborough Chamber of Commerce where he Chaired its Government Relations Committee. He was also the past Chair of the Business Community Partners Advisory Council for Providence Healthcare.
Mobile: 647 965 3042
Director of Public Affairs, Western Canada
Melanie Sutherland
Melanie contributes to Sutherland’s operations on the West Coast. She has a breadth of experience as a media spokesperson, in municipal and provincial elections campaigns and in developing legislative proposals for social and environmental initiatives.
As Director of Public Affairs, Melanie is responsible for legislative strategy, stakeholder relations and event management on the West Coast. Through strong government and stakeholder relationships and a background in Legal Studies, Melanie provides policy and legislative analysis to Sutherland clients and uses this expertise to drive legislative change.
Melanie graduated from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology with a degree in Legal Studies. She is originally from Cobourg, Ontario and now resides and works in the City of Vancouver.
Mobile: 604 360 2152
Vice-President of Public Affairs, Atlantic Canada
Paula Tessier
As Vice-President of Public Affairs, Atlantic Canada, Paula oversees Sutherland’s government relations and strategic communications projects in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
Based in her home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Paula brings 12 years of experience as a municipal councillor in the City of Mount Pearl. As an elected official, Paula gained meaningful insight into public policy development and municipal decision making.
Additionally, Paula is a 15-year published columnist and has a decade of experience in the not-for-profit sector. She is currently a board member of the Canadian Cancer Society in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Paula contributes her expertise in developing and executing financial plans and implementing communications strategies focused on the corporate sector, government stakeholders and the grassroots to lead diverse public affairs strategies in the east coast and Quebec.
Mobile: 709 728 4818
Director of Government Relations
Kevin Whyte
Kevin’s background in government and stakeholder relations, project management, business development and communications in the not-for-profit sector yields a unique approach to serving clients and forging relationships with decision-makers.
Prior to joining Sutherland, Kevin worked for Habitat for Humanity in progressive roles that included leading international builds, developing communications programs, expanding business opportunities as well as fostering communications and collaboration with governments and other key stakeholders.
A student of political science at home and abroad through international academic exchanges, Kevin offers a global political perspective to clients seeking to leverage economic opportunities and remains actively involved in the domestic democratic process through regularly supporting municipal, provincial and federal political campaigns.
Mobile: 289 684 9979
Executive Strategic Advisor
John Campbell
John provides Sutherland with a strong background in the municipal sector.
As a Toronto City Councillor for Etobicoke Centre (2014-2018), John was selected by Mayor John Tory to serve on the Budget Committee, the Planning and Growth Committee and the TTC.
Prior to being on City Council, John served two terms as a Trustee and as Chair of the Toronto District School Board in 2008 and 2009, representing Canada’s largest school board (sixth largest in North America) with over 250,000 students, 550 schools and 30,000 unionised staff.
Prior to entering public service, John spent over 20 years in the private sector, including in the consumer packaged goods industry and as managing director of his own sales agency.
John currently serves on the board of Toronto Community Housing Corporation, a post he was appointed to by City Council in May 2019.
John earned his MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto and an Honors Bachelor of the Arts from the University of Toronto at Victoria College.
Mobile: 416 526 1722