CPRS-NS is governed and run by a
volunteer Board of Directors.
Board involvement is a rewarding way to help advance the public relations and communications profession in our area. The board meets once monthly except June-August to plan and oversee membership, scholarships and awards, accreditation, professional development and social events, chapter finances, budget and operations, web and social media content, liaison with post-secondary PR programs, faculties and students, other member benefits, and more!
If you would like to give back to the public relations profession by volunteering to become more involved with CPRS-NS, contact us a cprsnovascotia@gmail.com.
CPRS-NS Board of Directors 2023-2024
JoAnn is a communications advisor with Communications Nova Scotia and previously served as Vice President and Communications Chair of CPRS Nova Scotia. She is currently a member of the CPRS National President’s Council and the Governance Committee.
JoAnn has marketing and communications experience in the non-profit sector and worked in the media industry in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Shelley has over 17 years of public relations experience in both Canada and the U.S., and that many years again as the main faculty for the Nova Scotia Community College’s public relations program.
With an education in English literature, public relations, and adult learning, she has worked in health care, education, telecom and finance. Shelley has served in several CPRS-NS board positions over the span of her career.
Chris Hansen is the Senior Director of Strategic Communications at the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service. A member of CPRS-NS for almost 35 years, Chris served as chapter president and later as accreditation chair in the early 90s. She served as CPRS-NS president again in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.
A former journalist, Chris made the jump to Public Relations when she joined the Victoria General Hospital in 1985. Her current focus is media relations and issues management.
Coleen has been active member of CPRS for over twenty years. A graduate of the public relations program at Mount Saint Vincent University, she was first introduced to the professional association in her first year at MSVU.
Early in her career, Coleen worked at Maritime Broadcasting as a copy writer before transitioning to television production. After close to thirteen years as an award-winning producer/director with Global Television and CBC Halifax, she took on the lead communications role with the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union where she has been responsible for numerous PR campaigns. She has also contributed to several national and provincial research studies and reports, has written a multitude of publications, and continues to produce and direct long and short-form videos.
Her volunteer board experience includes Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Halifax, the NSNU, the Chebucto Family Centre, the Nova Scotia Health Coalition and CPRS NS.
Alison is an accredited senior communications and engagement strategist who has spent her career working with and on behalf of complex, customer-centric organizations across Atlantic Canada. She’s worked at agencies, for profits and non-profits in utilities, financial services, and economic development. She’s led teams, mentored those new in their careers and coached those looking to grow their skills. Alison’s professional practice areas include marketing, public relations, stakeholder engagement and change management. Alison has been a CPRS national APR Accreditation Examiner for a number of years and is delighted to be back serving on the CPRS-NS Board.
Charmaine is currently Director of External Relations at Genome Atlantic, where she leads communications, sector outreach, and stakeholder relations. Charmaine has extensive experience leading communications projects and teams in both the public and private sectors and she operated her own communications consulting company for many years.
She was named CPRS (NS) Communicator of the Year in 2019.
This is Charmaine’s third term on the Board of CPRS (NS) during which time she has Chaired and co-Chaired the Chapter’s Accreditation portfolio. In addition to her volunteer work with CPRS, Charmaine serves as volunteer communications advisor for the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute.
Dawn is a strategic communications professional, storyteller, and coach skilled in media relations, crisis communication, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement. Most of her career has been spent managing sensitive issues and acting as a trusted advisor, guiding leaders on how to simplify complex subject matter to effectively engage with a variety of audiences.
Before joining Iris Communications as Vice President, Dawn spent over a decade working in Alberta’s energy sector where she mentored staff and provided advice and counsel to a variety of CEOs and executive teams at the Alberta Electric System Operator, Husky Energy, Cenovus, and TransAlta.
Dawn is a graduate of Mount Saint Vincent University where she obtained her degree in Public Relations and Certificate in Marketing.
Katie Feltmate is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, speaker, and avid traveler. Katie is the founder of two companies, Perspective PR, an agency specializing in brand audits, content and storytelling and Self-Publishing Academy, which offers online courses and coaching for aspiring self-published authors. As a creative writer first and foremost, Katie wrote and self-published her debut book of poetry, Love in the Age of Quarantine during the pandemic which won silver in The Coast’s Best Book Halifax 2022 awards and earned her the Young Alumni of the Year Award from her alma mater, Mount Saint Vincent University.
Sarah is passionate about communicating with purpose to create possibilities. She is an award-winning and published independent corporate & executive communications advisor, with more than two decades of successful strategic communications programs in her arsenal. She has helped mid-to-large-sized organizations with global or national reach tackle their toughest challenges by building powerful in-house communications teams and overseeing effective communications & social responsibility mandates. She was recognized in 2021 by Ragan and PR Daily as one of the Top Women in Communications (Crisis Navigator) internationally. She is currently the President of Prospect Strategies.
Tiffany is responsible for managing strategic communications and marketing initiatives on behalf of Halifax Stanfield, the largest international airport in the Atlantic Region and a critical piece of Nova Scotia’s transportation infrastructure. As Director, Public Affairs & Marketing for Halifax International Airport Authority, Tiffany manages the airport’s reputation through proactive communications, community, stakeholder, and government relations activities, and strategic response to emerging issues.
Tiffany has over 20 years of experience in strategic communications, issues management and community engagement. She has a Bachelor of Public Relations degree and Certificate in Marketing from Mount Saint Vincent University and held previous communications roles at Nova Scotia Power and Halifax Regional Municipality..