Tricia Forde

Corporate Communications, Department of Executive and Indigenous Relations

• Responsible to provide central agency strategic communications oversight to departments; ensuring government priority alignment, a 'one government, one voice' approach, and brand compliance
• Maintained positive relationships with key players at various levels of government and other stakeholders to support communications planning and implementation
• Lead sensitive, political and interdepartmental files, providing advice across communications business lines as a senior-level strategist and trusted advisor
• Oversaw the quality of communications planning tools, which often included drafting strategies, messaging and other content as required for high profile and/or political files
• Maintained, updated and/or developed policies, directives, guidelines and templates to support the streamlining of operations
• Facilitated the development, implementation and continual improvement of communications processes and supporting systems including evaluation and reporting
• Facilitated engagement on central agency initiatives with a relationship-first focus to secure early buy-in and active participation
• Consistently used strong analytical and problem solving skills to address issues from a broad government perspective, and manage day-to-day operations
• Managed a multi-year major change initiative from concept to implementation, resulting in improvements to how the entire government communicates
• Managed strategic planning team to ensure effective government-wide communications planning for optimized business outcomes
• Responsible for hiring processes, and evaluating employee performance to support both organizational objectives and employee growth and development
• Maximized team performance through training and mentoring initiatives
• Acted for Director as required

Department of Lands

• Set up and managed legislation unit in a new government department that was established as part of NWT Devolution. Activities included defining function and roles, managing staffing processes, ensuring effective team integration within organization, and supporting day-to-day operations
• Liaised regularly with senior management to ensure the alignment of priorities
• Advanced government mandate commitment to modernize land management legislation by: coordinating legislative reviews; strengthening critical relationships; and conducting stakeholder engagement sessions along with Indigenous consultation processes
• Reviewed government policies and guidelines to ensure legislative alignment
• Managed departmental requests and database for legal opinions liaising with the Department of Justice
• Identified opportunities to improve operations. For example, implementing a board appointment screening process for enhanced consistency and transparency, and establishing a manager-level forum for shared priorities and collaborative working relationships
• Participated in senior management committee meetings, prepared briefing materials for senior officials, and coordinated inter-governmental meetings
• Acted for Director of Legislation, Policy and Communications on a regular basis

Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs

• Managed communications team to ensure NWT regional programs and services were supported by effective, forward-thinking, strategic communications planning and implementation for better business outcomes
• Oversaw the development and implementation of annual communications plans for all organizational divisions, ensuring they reflected the unique needs of operating in the North
• Actively involved in ensuring effective communications approaches were used in regional engagement and Section 35 consultation processes with Indigenous governments
• Liaised with central agency communications team in Ottawa, as well as represented the NWT Region on the nation-wide communications planning committee
• Supported the establishment of a digital communications team in headquarters by testing processes, recommending themes and feeding content to corporate social media channels
• Championed the review and enhancement of the employee recognition and merit award program
• Participated in business planning and organizational risk profiling to provide a communications lens for enhanced operations
• Coordinated all ministerial event planning in the NWT by producing related communications products and supporting logistics
• Chaired regional Workplace Wellness Committee
• Delivered on managerial duties related to finance and human resources
• Participated as regular member of the senior management team to provide strategic advice

Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs

• Supervised a team of strategic communications officers, supporting assigned departments and delivering on corporate initiatives
• Provided strategic communications advice and support from idea or issue identification to implementation and evaluation
• Developed communications products including news releases, media lines, backgrounders, Q&As, speeches, newsletters, brochures, digital content, exhibit materials, promotional items, internal communication, etc.
• Prepared and monitored the implementation of an annual communications plan for each program area of responsibility, supported by additional planning as required
• Responsible for media monitoring, media relations and spokesperson coaching
• Proposed and launched a multi-year Communications in Communities Mentoring Program to build communications capacity across the North, including establishing program criteria, selecting a review committee, developing programming and in-person mentoring for select Indigenous governments and organizations
• Organized regular team-building activities
• Responsible for quarterly staff performance reviews and evaluation

Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs

• Provided strategic communications advice and support to internal clients with a focus on environmental and regulatory files
• Prepared and monitored the implementation of an annual communications plan for each program area of responsibility, supported by additional planning as required
• Developed communications products including news releases, media lines, backgrounders, Q&Asp;As, speeches, newsletters, brochures, digital content, exhibit materials, promotional items, internal communication, etc.
• Provided media monitoring and issues management services, including mediating press conferences
• Supported department from a communications perspective at public hearings for multiple high profile regulatory files
• Provided communications support for public engagement processes
• Developed a comprehensive orientation program for regional staff to enhance employee onboarding
• Built positive working relationships within department and with external stakeholders to advance communications work

Department of Education, Culture and Employment

• Lead the territorial nominee program in its development phase
• Compiled information to support the development of an NWT immigration program
• Prepared proposal to secure federal funding to advance work
• Represented the GNWT on cross-jurisdictional working groups
• Drafted all related briefing and presentation materials for decision-makers and others

Department of Education, Culture and Employment

• Supported Minister's office and departmental activities, with a direct report to the Deputy Minister
• Managed departmental media relations for a large department with diverse programs areas having significant public interest
• Attended events with the Minister to support effective communications
• Drafted all communications materials from key messaging, communications plans, web copy and other program-related content
• Developed communications products ranging from strategies, reports, brochures, advertisements to major marketing campaigns
• Coordinated photoshoots to create a library of images for communications products
• Responsible for brand management through visual identity and official language compliance
• Streamlined internal communications processes and development templates for increased efficiencies throughout the department

• Provided front-line customer service and account manager supporting company growth
• Communicated effective print and/or design solutions to public and private sector clients
• Liaised between client, graphic designer and printer
• Supported senior management by providing communications advice to successfully enhance business development initiatives to reach a broader audience to expand client base
• Offered extensive knowledge of offset and digital printing processes, production and job costing options (3 years of previous printing industry)
• Provided copy writing and editorial services to enhance the service delivery model

• Directed marketing strategy for innovative fast-growing tour company that pioneered the way for aurora tourism in northern Canada
• Communicated company vision to secure buy-in and facilitate strategic partnership and investment opportunities, and to garner support of ongoing product development
• Drafted funding proposals to support business expansion
• Researched marketplace trends to forecast business activity and conduct risk analysis
• Participated in new tour/product development in a culturally diverse and multi-lingual environment
• Prepared marketing strategies and related communications materials for multiple target audiences
• Managed media relations, including: responding to reporters on a regular basis, proactively pitching ideas to raise company profile, preparing spokesperson messaging, and acting as spokesperson when required
• Represented company at domestic and international industry trade shows to market the aurora experience
• Facilitated all corporate events, often for high profile dignitaries
• Lead merchandise development processes to support brand recognition
• Created the company's own "legendary story" based on a young client's aurora experience as a marketing tactic which developed into a collection of retail items, ranging from plush dolls to diamond jewelry
• Participated as an active member of senior management team