Andrew Bernardo
Ottawa,ON
Summary
Strategic Communications, Public Policy, and Corporate Affairs Executive with significant experience in providing strategic guidance and driving impactful results. A natural team-leader laser-focused on adaptability to the dynamic needs of high-pressure, complex organizations. Skilled in building and driving strategy at an organizational-level, stakeholder engagement, and policy development. Known for reliability, effective communication, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Dual Canadian/European Union (Netherlands) Citizenship.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Advisor – Defence and Security
PUBLIC AFFAIRS ADVISORS (PAA)
05.2025 - Current
- Responsible for leading the Defence and Security practice of one of Ottawa’s largest Government Relations and Public Affairs firms.
- Leads client account teams, driving programs of work and ensuring accountability on the level of effort and outputs.
- Provides executive advisory to clients of the firm.
- Drafts and edits client communications and strategic plans, presentation materials, for internal and external audiences.
- Drafts reports and analysis on daily government activity in the Defence and Security space.
- Provides ongoing, real-time advice and insight to senior leaders of client organizations and oversees the public affairs and government relations needs of clients in the Defence, Security, and Marine domains.
- Identifies, develops and oversees new business activities in the area of defence and security.
- Provides mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to the early-career professionals who join the firm.
- Builds and maintains relationships with relevant government, defence and security industry, media and other stakeholders.
Part-Time Member (Public) – Order-in-Council Appointment
GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO
01.2024 - Current
- The Ontario Review Board (the "Board") has jurisdiction over individuals who have been found by a court to be either unfit to stand trial or not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder. The Board is an independent tribunal established pursuant to the Criminal Code of Canada which stipulates that each province and territory must establish or designate a Review Board to oversee these individuals.
- Appointed by the 30th Lieutenant Governor General of Ontario as a part-time, public member of the Ontario Review Board.
- Reviews evidence related to individual proceedings (considerations related to: annual reviews, detention dispositions, discharge and conditional discharge)
- Sits on five member adjudicative review panels, provides advice and guidance to chair or alternate chair of hearing.
- Has been entrusted to draft reasons for cases as a public member.
- Drafts minority opinions if consensus not reached.
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
09.2016 - 05.2025
- Provided leadership and strategic counsel in internal/external communications and issues management, media and stakeholder relations, as well as parliamentary affairs and engagement.
- Authored and maintained the Office’s first Strategic Communications and Government Relations Plan.
- Included detailed social media strategy and stakeholder mapping components.
- Serves as one of four direct reports to the Ombudsman.
- Provided strategic advice, guidance and support to the Ombudsman in the area of communications, issues management, parliamentary affairs, and strategic policy.
- Oversaw the development of all internal and external communications material for Office use, including all web and social media content.
- Developed and managed multi-disciplinary projects and strategies with departmental organizations and external stakeholders.
- Responsible for developing and maintaining strategic networks of external stakeholders, including Provincial and Municipal Governments, Canadian Forces Spousal networks, Veterans and Veterans advocates, research and innovation hubs, academia, and International Ombudsman networks.
- Served as the primary interface between the Ombudsman’s Office and the Office of the Minister of National Defence.
- Served as the primary speechwriter for the Ombudsman for Parliamentary committee appearances, press conferences, and major public appearances.
- Served as the primary spokesperson of the office.
- Involved developing and maintaining positive and meaningful relationships with a vast network of national, regional and local media contacts.
- Managed human, financial resources, and business planning for the Communications Directorate.
Director of Corporate Communications
SOUTHLAKE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Provided leadership and strategic counsel in internal / external communications, branding and reputation management, community engagement, media and government relations, and issues management.
- Authored the Hospital’s first Strategic Communications Plan with Government and Stakeholder Relations sub-components in order to support multiple hospital initiatives, including its five-year strategic plan.
- Involved broad consultations with internal and external stakeholders, and required both Senior Management and CEO approval, as well as sign-off by the Hospital’s Board of Directors.
- Positioned organization favourably with internal / external stakeholders by planning, managing, and executing public relations and media activities and promoting open and transparent communications.
- Maintained / protected organizational reputation by advising CEO, senior team, and Board on strategic communications, government relations, and day-to-day communications activities.
- Responsible for the development of all internal and external communications products and material, including web and social media content.
- Contributed to achievement of strategic vision by supporting CEO, senior team, and Board; providing research, positioning advice, writing and editing, and internal / external promotion of strategic plan.
- Mitigated negative impacts by leading communications during times of crisis / critical events; providing timely issues management advice, briefing notes, and key messages to all leadership.
- Directly supported and assisted in advancing the new Southlake Healthcare Innovation Hub (H2i) by providing strategic communications support and assistance in drafting grants and contributions documents for federal and provincial government consideration.
- Oversaw and provided strategic direction to the Patient Relations department of the hospital.
- Managed human, financial resources, and business planning for the Communications Directorate.
Director of Policy, Office of the Minister
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
08.2011 - 12.2015
- Led and oversaw strategic policy development department-wide on behalf of Minister.
- Supported ministerial decision-making by advising and briefing Minister on complex policy issues, including Cabinet material for Priorities and Planning, and Foreign Affairs and Defence committees.
- Paved way for success of important policy initiatives by building and leveraging positive relationships with key business, government, and non-profit stakeholders to inform and consult on initiatives.
- Facilitated legislative, regulatory, and policy changes by overseeing preparation of key Cabinet material including Memoranda to Cabinet and Treasury Board submissions on Minister’s behalf.
- Advanced Government’s mandate by assisting in development of major strategic corporate services initiatives in collaboration with senior departmental executives including Assistant Deputy Ministers.
- Shared expertise by providing strategic advice to colleagues on communications and issues management files.
Issues Manager / Question Period Advisor, Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CANADA
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Served as issues management contact between Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Minister’s office, including representing Department of Justice at daily Issues Management meeting held at PMO.
- Proactively identified communication and policy risks through daily liaison with high-level directors and advisors (e.g. Parliamentary Affairs, National Security, etc.), Chief of Staff, and Deputy Minister’s office.
- Prepared Minister for Question Period by using subject matter expertise on sensitive, trending issues to draft thorough, relevant communications lines and conduct daily briefings with Minister.
- Mitigated impact of identified issues by monitoring media, and maintaining strong knowledge of past and current legislation, committee business, departmental finances, and more.
- Consistently met tight deadlines in pressure-filled environment by leveraging extensive understanding of policy, communications strategy, departmental operations, and ongoing litigation.
Special Assistant, Parliamentary Affairs to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CANADA
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Served as primary content editor for ministerial correspondence relating to 11 different justice policy areas, as well as holding responsibility for Justice Canada bills, motions, and debate in the House of Commons.
- Advocated for private members’ bills (PMBs) and motions before the House of Commons – where Justice Canada was lead department – by providing thorough valuable support including:
- Preparing necessary documents for bill review, including detailed political and legislative analyses, based on research parliamentary history of all PMBs introduced in 40th Parliament.
- Monitoring debate proceedings from lobby of House of Commons and preparing speeches, questions, and comments for Conservative members of parliament during proceedings.
- Preparing voting rationales on all Justice-related PMBs for Party Whip’s office.
- Shepherded Government legislation introduced in House of Commons and Senate by Department of Justice by arranging for, and briefing all speakers to ensure preparation for debate on Justice Bills.
- Facilitated responses to Parliamentary Enquiries and Petitions by coordinating with Department on drafting, review, and submission of responses to the Privy Council Office for tabling in House of Commons.
- Provided timely, appropriate response to information requests; served as member of review team with well-developed understanding, interpretation, and application of Access to Information Act.
Education
Master of Public Administration -
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS05-2008
Bachelor of Arts - History
Acadia University
Wolfville, NS05-2006
Skills
- Critical thinking
- Multitasking and organization
- Verbal and written communication
- Relationship building and management
- Analytical thinking
- Organizational development
- Task prioritization
- Problem-solving
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Professional Working
Timeline
Principal Advisor – Defence and Security
PUBLIC AFFAIRS ADVISORS (PAA)
05.2025 - Current
Part-Time Member (Public) – Order-in-Council Appointment
GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO
01.2024 - Current
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
09.2016 - 05.2025
Director of Corporate Communications
SOUTHLAKE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE
01.2015 - 01.2016
Director of Policy, Office of the Minister
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
08.2011 - 12.2015
Issues Manager / Question Period Advisor, Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CANADA
01.2010 - 01.2011
Special Assistant, Parliamentary Affairs to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CANADA
01.2008 - 01.2010
Master of Public Administration -
Dalhousie University
Bachelor of Arts - History
Acadia University