Meet your IABC/Calgary Board of Directors
We’re a friendly bunch and always happy to hear from members and volunteers on how we can improve your experience. Come say hello at an upcoming event!
President – Caroline Lule, CMP
Caroline is a strategic communications leader with 14+ years of experience helping brands tell stories that influence and drive business impact. A lifelong learner, Caroline holds a bachelor’s degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, a postgraduate certificate in communications from Seneca College, and an MBA from McMaster University.
Past President – Kristin McVeigh
Kristin has long believed that work and enjoyment never have to be mutually exclusive and has cultivated a career full of passion and purpose. She has worked in the field of communications for nearly ten years helping support causes like mental health, cardiovascular health, food security and the environment. Over the past seven years, she’s been proud to be involved at IABC/Calgary as a volunteer in portfolios from membership to mentorship.
Vice President – Colleen Houston
Colleen is a well-rounded communications professional who works to strategically assess communications challenges, and provide practical, innovative solutions. With over a decade in the energy sector, she specializes in corporate brand management, digital marketing, and storytelling. She has been recognized for her work in the communications field including receiving a 2023 and 2019 IABC Gold Quill Award of Merit.
Director, Administration – Danielle Hillje
Danielle is an emerging communications professional, who is working towards her goal of becoming a Communications Generalist. Having stumbled across the Communications profession quite unexpectedly, Danielle has found a home for her creativity, writing skill, love of continuous learning, academic-honed research skills, and even her blatant honesty. She continues to build her experience through freelance, part-time and volunteer opportunities.
Director, Mentorship – Julia Perkins, CMP
Julia has 18 years of work experience and is competent in internal, external and crisis communications as well as change management. She currently works at ENMAX on the Community, Communications and Brand team, where she has been for seven years. She started her career in investor relations and tech before dabbling in consulting and freelance writing, then moved to roles in corporate communications and change management for organizations like Precision Drilling and Tervita (SECURE Energy). A CMP, Julia holds a Master of Arts in communications and technology from the University of Alberta and is Prosci certified. She’s a long-time member of IABC/Calgary, won the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2018/19, and is a return evaluator for the Gold Quill awards. This is her second year on the IABC/Calgary Board leading the mentorship portfolio.
Director, Marketing – Marzena Czarnecka
Marzena Czarnecka has written for virtually every business publication in Canada, including the Globe and Mail and the National Post, and internationally for Thomson Reuters. A former journalism instructor at SAIT, she continues to facilitate journalism, business and creative writing workshops as she insists that the essential structure of a page-turning romance novel, an effective press release and a viral article is basically the same. She’s currently leading the thought leadership and media strategy on the broker marketing and communications team at Intact Insurance.
Co-Director, Member Communications (Newsletter) – Ghalib Sumar
Ghalib, born and raised in Toronto, is an ambitious, detail-oriented, and accomplished professional with 13+ years of experience in Marketing & Communications (MarComms). He is a dedicated volunteer champion in the community where his extensive experience has had a measurable impact and created meaningful results. Ghalib has been active with IABC since 2022, serving previously as the IABC/Calgary Newsletter Manager and the 2023 IABC Canada West Conference Marketing Coordinator. In his spare time, he regularly enjoys going to the mountains and is a huge basketball fan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Health Studies from York University, and a Digital Marketing & Social Media with UI/UX Design Certificate from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
Co-Director, Member Communications (Website) – Jose Joy
Jose is a communicator who brings together experience in journalism, content planning and strategy. He has worked in the industry for over eight years in diverse sectors ranging from education and arts/culture to sustainability and energy. Jose currently works in the electricity sector, supporting internal and external communications at ENMAX.
Director, Membership – Jeremy Broadfield
Jeremy is an experienced communications generalist with a diverse career having worked in agriculture, government, agency and non-profits. Currently he is the Communications Manager at EMI Canada. He comes to the communications profession after a decade as an award- winning journalist and photographer. A past IABC/Calgary volunteer of the year, Jeremy is committed to seeing the communications profession thrive in Calgary.
Director, Finance– Jamie Anne Vaughan
Jamie is the Founder and Principal of Westwood Strategies – a PR and communications agency. With 10+ years of business, communications, PR, and marketing experience, she is well suited to help organizations share their stories. In addition, Jamie coaches and mentors women to help them shift gears in their career, change the trajectory of their business, or safeguard their personal and financial future. Jamie is a sessional instructor at Mount Royal University, and she holds a BAH from Queen’s University and an MBA from Dalhousie University.
Director, Professional Standards – Sage Pullen McIntosh
Sage has 10+ years of experience working in both non-profit and corporate communications and is currently the Director of Communications & Loyalty for Calgary Co-op. Previously, Sage spent 16 years as a journalist working throughout Southern Alberta. She holds a Diploma in Broadcasting from Mount Royal University, a Master of Arts in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University, as well as a CMP Certification from GCCC and is a PROSCI Certified Change Practitioner. In her spare time, she enjoys running and is currently training for her first, and likely only, marathon.
Director, Professional Development & Events – Greg Dawson
Greg has 17 years of diverse communications experience in the UK and Canada, most recently leading Communications & Sustainability for Kicking Horse Coffee. He’s been fortunate to work across internal, external, financial, crisis, community and sustainability communications during his career so far. He loves to learn, meet people, play music and enjoy the many breweries that Calgary has to offer.
Director, Student Development – Virginia Mackay
Virginia is a fourth-year student in the Mount Royal University Bachelor of Communications, Public Relations program. Prior to her communications studies, she spent 12 years working as an interior decorator and designer, running her own successful interior design business for four years. With a passion for connecting with people and an intuitive sense for problem solving, Virginia is excited for a shift in career and a return to her original passion of writing and communications work. In her downtime, she loves to adventure in the mountains with her three daughters, cook delicious meals and read.
Interested in becoming part of our board? We are recruiting for members to join our board.
