Media relations + public affairs
Applied in the following roles & initiatives
Utilised across roles that shaped this practice.
Utilised during tenures at Shawn Van Daele Creative / Photography, Chai Lifeline Canada, St. Joseph's Hospice of London, The Drawing Hope Project, Big Brothers Big Sisters St. Thomas-Elgin and Agency & In-house Creative Teams.
Founder & Creative Director
2009 - PresentShawn Van Daele Creative / Photography
Built the complete commercial engine - brand positioning, audience development, lead gen, paid media, publicity, partnerships, referrals, sales conversion and portfolio strategy
Marketing & Communications Manager
2025 - 2026Chai Lifeline Canada
Conceived, wrote, designed and delivered the inaugural Rosh Hashanah Meal Program campaign across direct mail, print, email, organic social and paid - $140K+ net against a $40K goal
Director, Marketing & Communications
2019 - 2021St. Joseph's Hospice of London
Rebuilt the low-converting website around four clear actions - Give Help, Find Help, Contact Us and Donate - reducing friction for families in crisis
Founder + Executive Creative Lead
2011 - 2016The Drawing Hope Project
Global media coverage including The Today Show, ABC World News and MTV News (filmed on-site at SickKids over three days)
Board Director + Volunteer Mentor
2022 - PresentBig Brothers Big Sisters St. Thomas-Elgin
Governance, fundraising support, marketing and communications counsel and direct youth mentorship for an organization focused on youth potential, equity and lasting community relationships.
Art Direction · Design · Production Leadership
Earlier careerAgency & In-house Creative Teams
Agency and in-house creative roles across consumer, healthcare, education, government and cultural clients - plus early music/entertainment publicity photography and album artwork connected to Sony Music. The range that underpins today's leadership work.
Brand + positioning strategy, Integrated marketing + campaigns and Communications strategy.
