Counsel Public Affairs is excited to announce the addition of Amanda van Baarsen to our team. As Associate Vice President, Western Canada, Amanda will support our clients in achieving their goals in British Columbia and the Western provinces.
Amanda brings more than a decade of experience in value-based problem solving, strategic planning, and crisis management. She worked for the BC New Democratic Party in opposition and in government, serving in ministries that were key priorities of the BC government, such as Health, Advanced Education and Citizen Services. She was a trusted senior advisor, helping to manage some of the most challenging issues facing the government, including playing a valued role in the coordination of BC’s internationally-recognized pandemic response.
“Amanda knows how this BC government works,” says Brad Lavigne, Partner and Western Practice Lead, “She will apply that expertise to helping our clients succeed, not only for those in the health care sector, but for other priorities of this government as well.”
As a frequent lead on government’s public engagement, Amanda participated in hundreds of meetings across a variety of sectors, including with senior business executives, health professional organizations, industry associations, labour leaders, municipal, federal, and Indigenous leaders, and leaders of faith communities. She understands what effective government engagement looks and sounds like, and uses those skills to help clients make the most of their interactions with officials – focusing on the right decision-makers with the right message.
We are thrilled to welcome Amanda to our Western Practice as the Counsel team continues to support our clients across the country.
Established in 2004, Counsel has grown to become a national firm, with a team of 27 consultants in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Ottawa.
Counsel provides a full suite of services in national and provincial government relations and public affairs, including lobbying, crisis communications, strategic communications, media training, “PR4GR” campaigns and public opinion research.