Counsel expands teams in BC and Ottawa
Counsel continues to grow its expert team, strengthening its presence across multiple jurisdictions and expanding its ability to support clients navigating complex policy, regulatory, and government relations environments.
With the addition of Pegah Taj as Senior Consultant in Victoria and Maleeka Thomas as Consultant in Ottawa, Counsel continues to expand its national reach and deepen its expertise across diverse portfolios.
This continued growth reflects Counsel’s commitment to building a strong, integrated team that can deliver strategic insight and effective representation across Canada.
Pegah Taj joins as Senior Consultant, based in Victoria, BC.
Pegah joins Counsel from the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, where she served the BC Conservative Official Opposition most recently as Executive Assistant to the Whip. Pegah worked at the operational heart of caucus management, coordinating MLA schedules, preparing members for debate and Question Period, and monitoring House business to ensure the caucus was positioned to act when it mattered. The role gave her an exceptionally close view of parliamentary procedure, vote management, and the internal dynamics that shape how an opposition caucus operates and exerts influence.
“Pegah joined the BC Conservative Official Opposition at a pivotal moment and stayed through a period of real consequence for the party and the province,” said Amanda van Baarsen, Vice President. “As Executive Assistant to the Whip, she developed a deep, practical understanding of how caucus discipline, House strategy, and political decision-making actually work in a closely divided legislature, the kind of insight that’s hard to acquire any other way. That strengthens our presence in Western Canada and sharpens the advice we can give clients navigating policy and government in BC.”
Throughout her time at the Legislature, Pegah supported Opposition MLAs with communications, speech and debate preparation, stakeholder engagement, scheduling, and strategic priorities, often under fast-moving, high-pressure conditions. That vantage point gave her a rare, firsthand understanding of how an opposition caucus functions both on the floor of the House and behind the scenes, and of the factors that drive policy development and government decision-making in a closely divided legislature.
Few government relations professionals in BC have observed the current Official Opposition this closely or this recently, giving Counsel’s clients a distinctive read on how legislation moves and where the Opposition’s pressure points lie.
Pegah holds a PhD in Business Policy and Strategy and a Master of Global Business with a focus on international business. Her academic and international experience has given her a global perspective and strong cross-cultural communication skills, enabling her to build relationships and navigate complex environments effectively.
Pegah is passionate about advancing human rights, expanding educational opportunities, and supporting a prosperous economy. She values collaboration, relationship building, and constructive dialogue as essential to achieving meaningful progress.
Maleeka Thomas joins as Consultant, based in Ottawa.
Maleeka is a public affairs professional with experience in government relations, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications.
Prior to joining Counsel, Maleeka built a strong foundation in the non-profit sector. Most recently, she served as Member Relations Officer with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, where she supported national engagement initiatives and federal advocacy efforts. In this role, she contributed to advising on complex policy environments, building relationships with decision-makers, organizing lobby weeks and national advocacy campaigns, and supporting evidence-based advocacy and research.
Maleeka brings experience from the post-secondary education sector, where she has been involved in successful government relations initiatives at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, contributing to policy outcomes and securing new financial investments in programs and services.
“Maleeka’s experience in advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and government relations across multiple levels of government adds meaningful depth to our team,” said John Delacourt, Senior Vice President. “Her work supporting national engagement initiatives and policy development strengthens our ability to provide strategic, insight-driven advice to clients operating in complex public affairs environments.”
In addition to her public affairs experience, Maleeka has cultivated strong relationships with government, contributing to election campaigns and supporting Members of Parliament through constituency outreach initiatives that helped communicate policy priorities and strengthen connections with communities.
Beyond her professional work, she is the Founder and Executive Director of the Network of Black Women and remains actively engaged in community advocacy.
Maleeka holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Lethbridge.
Learn more about Counsel’s Team here.