Our Team
Paul Sutherland
Paul, President and CEO of Sutherland Corp, leads Canada’s premier government relations and public affairs firm. A former North York City Councillor and Deputy Mayor, he advises corporate and not-for-profit clients on navigating complex municipal, provincial, and federal government strategies.
Dan Bordonali
Dan, founding member of Sutherland Corp, guides municipal public affairs and government relations strategies. With 14+ years at Toronto City Hall, he advises on transit, transportation, infrastructure, development, and labour projects for major municipalities across Canada.
Monika Bujalska
Monika brings 15+ years of public affairs, communications, and issues management experience at municipal, provincial, and federal levels. She advises on complex policy areas and has worked with Toronto City Hall, the Ontario Power Authority, and Canada’s Minister of International Trade, delivering strategies across multiple sectors.
Artem Chaplynsky
Artem brings extensive experience in strategic advisory and project management for government relations and public affairs. He has worked across municipal, provincial, and federal levels—including the Department of National Defence—helping clients secure funding, align stakeholders, and enhance public engagement through data-driven strategies.
Melissa DaCunha
Melissa is a Social Media & Communications Specialist supporting strategic communications through content, digital campaigns, research, and planning. She has proven success executing plans in fast-paced environments and holds a Bachelor’s from the University of Toronto and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations from Humber College.
Emmanuel Dion-Weiss
Emmanuel, Director of Government Relations for Québec and Eastern Canada at Sutherland, develops strategies for federal and provincial government relations. A bilingual political strategist with experience as a legislative assistant, press secretary, and campaign manager, he brings expertise in government, cybersecurity, economics, and rural affairs.
Tina Li
Tina, Manager of Finance at Sutherland, oversees daily financial activities and advises management on planning. With experience as an accounting manager in construction and software sectors, she specializes in financial reporting, system migration, and acquisition integration to support informed business decisions.
Emma Hunt
Emma, Director of Strategic & Business Communications at Sutherland, develops and implements social media and communications strategies for municipal affairs and government relations. She brings expertise in traditional and digital communications, stakeholder outreach, and media relations across sectors including entertainment, technology, infrastructure, and public administration.
Pat Perkins
Pat brings 30+ years of experience in government, public relations, strategic planning, and labour relations. A former Mayor of Whitby and Member of Parliament, she has served on multiple boards and leveraged extensive governance and labour expertise to support municipal and public affairs initiatives.
Kate Urquhart
Kate, Public Affairs Consultant at Sutherland, supports clients with government relations, communications, strategic planning, and policy engagement. She provides analysis, issue assessment, and AI-enabled insights, helping clients navigate complex political and regulatory environments while developing effective public affairs and strategic communications strategies.
Ben Smith
Ben Smith, public affairs strategist, specializes in government relations, communications, and campaign strategy. With experience on Parliament Hill, Ontario Cabinet, and Conservative campaigns at all levels, he helps clients in highly regulated sectors shape narratives, influence opinion, and achieve impactful public affairs results.