Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

Meghan Warby is a government relations and digital communications senior consultant at Hill & Knowlton Canada and Vice Chair of the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy. A social media enthusiast, Meghan recently traveled across the United States to interview ‘pioneers’ in eAdvocacy to gauge the significant changes in communications between the 2004 and 2008 American federal elections. Blogging at Withoutayard combines her love of music (nurtured by working at the Austin Music Foundation) & politics (expressed during federal & provincial elections on the H&K Election Predictor Blogs).

Work History

• Hill & Knowlton Canada
• government relations and digital communications senior consultant
• August 2006 to Present

• - Promoted within four months from researcher to consultant
  - Monitored, researched & analyzed Queen's Park legislation, regulation & committees
  - Organized numerous lobby days & events
  - Tasked with blogging on behalf of H&K during provincial & federal elections on new media's role in political campaigns
  - Interviewed for television & print media to speak on GenY, election & digital communications issues
  - Participated in world-wide digital practice group, advising clients on social media strategies, blogger outreach, online media monitoring & other web 2.0 initiatives
  - Speaking engagements for EQAO, University of Toronto, Canadian Institute, Canadian Gaming Summit, Government of Ontario, TFO & clients
  - Awarded ‘Best Teams’ recognition based on numerous clients' feedback
  - Awarded 2008 H&K In-Depth Study Bursary Award based on proposal to travel across America to interview, research & analyze impact of 2008 election on social media & advocacy campaigns

• Ontario Legislature Internship Program
• Legislative Intern
• September 2005 to July 2006

• - Selected to work at Queen’s Park with two Members of Provincial Parliament
  - Organized comprehensive research & briefing materials on wide variety of subjects
  - Wrote speeches on many topics, at varying length, with short deadlines
  - Reported on MPP’s actions in press releases, media alerts, newspaper articles
  - Requested and drafted Private Member’s Bills, interacted with Legislative Library & Legal staff
  - Attended meetings, wrote summaries, briefings & follow-up correspondence
  - Asked to serve as Member of Churchill Society Board of Directors (& continue to serve as Vice Chair)
  - Took on additional responsibilities: scheduled meetings, events, guests & sponsors
  - Sought-out, pitched & secured two long-term sponsors for the Program

• Program Administrator
• Austin Music Foundation
• September 2004 to April 2005

• - Selected for Creative Youth Envoy Internship Program by City of Toronto to act as one of five recent graduates to work abroad in cultural organizations
  - Organized monthly “Music Industry Boot Camp” workshop series
  - Compiled educational handbooks, researched, wrote & formatted all materials
  - Attended courses on building a Board of Directors, visioning & fundraising
  - Promoted events in e-mail newsletters, press releases, posters, radio & website
  - Liaised between Executive Director & Board Members, Stakeholders & Sponsors
  - Reported to the City of Toronto & the Department of Foreign Affairs

• Intern - Sound Recording Branch
• Heritage Canada

• - Doubled average internship time of graduate student
  - Attended Canada Music Week conference, reported on panels
  - Composed memos, wrote reports & briefings
  - Reviewed business plans of non-profit organizations
  - Compiled & analyzed data related to digitization of music industry
  - Used experience, contacts & resources of internship to fast track Master of Arts degree

Education

• Carleton University
• Master of Arts, Canadian Studies, Public Policy, Cultural Studies
• 2003 - 2004

• Completed two-year degree program in ten months
  Participated in Departmental Student Union, Organized Social Events
  Coordinator, “Traditions & Transformations: A Graduate Conference in Canadian Studies”
  Recipient, William & Margaret Roxburgh Memorial Award
  Volunteer, Rotary Adventure in Citizenship Program
  Presenter, “Association of Canadian Studies Youth Conference”

• University of Toronto - University College
• Honours Bachelor of Arts, Canadian Studies, Political Science
• 2009 -

• Graduated With Distinction
  Coordinator, “(Dis)placement Reflected in Canadian Literature” reading series
  Received University of Toronto Merit Award (05.2003) & Archibald MacMurchy Scholarship (09.1999)
  Executive Member, Canadian Studies Student Union
  Social Events Coordinator , University College Residence