Meet the team behind the work.
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Lisa Kirbie
CEO & Founder
Lisa Kirbie is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blackbird, bringing her passion and experience to drive change for our clients. She founded Blackbird in 2019, determined to do government relations differently. Originally from Canada’s west coast, Lisa relocated to Ottawa in 2002 and worked on Parliament Hill for close to a decade, including for members of Parliament, the leader of the Official Opposition, and for the Senate government leader. Upon leaving the Hill, Lisa was the Director of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs for a large provincial public-sector agency. She later moved to the private sector, where she was the managing partner and Indigenous practice lead at a boutique consultancy in Toronto before launching Blackbird. She is a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society, the Government Relations Institute of Canada, and the International Association of Business Communicators. Since Blackbird opened its doors, Lisa was nominated for an Ontario Premier’s Award in the business category, a RBC Royal Bank Canadian Women Entrepreneur’s Award, and a WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women award. In 2023, Lisa received an honourary diploma from Loyalist College in recognition of her business achievements. This year, Lisa was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Lobbyists by the Hill Times and named as one of Canada’s Top 50 women over 50. Lisa is proud mom of two and grandmother of two little boys, all of whom keep her very busy.
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Dan Pujdak
Chief Strategy Officer
Dan Pujdak is a nationally recognized thought leader on reconciliation and Arctic affairs and a leading policy and public relations practitioner. He has worked alongside major Canadian firms in the finance, resource, and retail sectors to build reconciliation initiatives and enhance the reputation of their brands. He has also worked with Indigenous groups across Canada to build partnerships, design policy frameworks, and grow their internal governance and communications capacity. Previously Dan has served as a senior advisor to Indigenous leaders as well as on Parliament Hill. He is a Fellow at the Public Policy Forum and Arctic 360, and a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
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Travis Boissoneau
Vice President
Travis Boissoneau is Blackbird Strategies’ Vice President. From Parliament Hill to Standing Rock, Travis has stood with First Nations to defend their rights and advance their interests for decades. A proud member of the Anishinabek Nation from the Ojibway Nation of Garden River First Nation, he has dedicated his life to serving First Nations across Ontario, including as the former Chief Administrative Officer of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, as a Regional Deputy Grand Chief of the Anishinabek Nation, and as an advocate on justice issues on behalf of the Leadership Council at Chiefs of Ontario. Travis brings this same passion and leadership to Blackbird. He understands the importance of developing meaningful ways to engage with First Nations, Treaty partners, and other stakeholders to support the critical work of Indigenous communities. He is also a business professional who holds a degree in accounting and business from Metropolitan University, as well as having attained the designation of Certified Professional Accountant. Travis is a proud father of four and lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
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Tom Potter
Senior Director of Government Relations
Tom Potter provides clients with strategic advice on government relations activities, helping them build lasting, productive relationships with decision-makers at various levels of government. He brings several years of parliamentary affairs and communications experience to his role at Blackbird, having worked for multiple Members of Parliament both in Ottawa and in their constituencies, providing our clients with an inside perspective on federal politics and policymaking.
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Lisa Brody Hoffman
Director of Public Affairs
Lisa Brody Hoffman is Director of Public Affairs at Blackbird Strategies. She brings over 15 years experience in strategic communications, campaign leadership, and community and stakeholder engagement. She served as Chief of Staff at the highest level in municipal politics, where she worked to advance new affordable housing, climate resilience initiatives, public realm improvements, community well-being programs, and more. Lisa has led national, regional, and local communications campaigns, and designed high-profile stakeholder engagement initiatives across community, government and non-profit sectors. Drawing upon her early career experience in communications design and creative direction, Lisa believes in crafting and articulating a clear and compelling vision to deliver strategies and tactics that influence diverse audiences. She is known for her collaborative leadership style, creative approach, and focus on deep listening and relationship building.
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Olivier Cullen
Director of Strategy
Olivier brings two decades of experience in government relations, marketing, and communications, with a strong focus on advancing Indigenous rights and reconciliation in Canada. His career includes significant roles in the private sector and at the most senior levels of the federal government. For eight years, Olivier served as a senior political advisor, including as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Indigenous Services, where he was instrumental in shaping policy initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Indigenous peoples.
During his four years advising the Minister of Public Safety, Olivier led the overhaul of the national First Nations Policing Program, a pivotal reform that strengthened safety and security in Indigenous communities across Canada. His work has consistently focused on building trust and fostering meaningful relationships between governments and Indigenous communities. Known for his strategic insight, creative problem-solving, and communication skills, Olivier is a trusted advisor who excels at forging partnerships and navigating complex issues. He continues to be an advocate for positive change, both within government and in the broader community. -
Jwane Izzetpanah
Director of Public Affairs – Western Canada
Jwane brings a decade of experience advancing strategy and influence across Canada’s political, policy, and business arenas. Known for her ability to navigate high-pressure environments, she has built a career shaping issues where reputation, communications, and national policy converge. She began her career in the Senate of Canada, working with Independent Senators on national initiatives and later served in a senior role within the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition, leading engagement across major policy and communications portfolios. In collaboration with Conservative Shadow Ministers, she helped align policy, communications, and issues management to strengthen national messaging and strategic direction. An entrepreneur at heart, Jwane also has private-sector experience that includes technology, architecture, and real estate; scaling ventures focused on operational efficiency and brand growth. In 2022, she was a candidate in Ottawa’s municipal election, which deepened her understanding of grassroots engagement and public opinion, complementing her national-level strategy work.
Jwane brings to Blackbird a results-driven approach and a reputation for strategic clarity, helping clients anticipate challenges, influence outcomes, and strengthen their position in Western Canada, and beyond -
Annalisa Harris
Senior Consultant
Annalisa Harris is a Senior Consultant at Blackbird Strategies. She has spent over a decade working at senior levels in federal, provincial, and municipal politics including as Policy and Regional Affairs Advisor to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations where she also served as the minister’s Quebec and British Columbia desks. An award-winning public speaker in both English and French, she has prepared ministers, mayors, and business leaders to effectively advocate for their interests. In her spare time, she volunteers as a soccer coach and as a mentor for the next generation of young leaders in sport and politics.
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Erica Wallis
Senior Consultant
Erica Wallis is a writer and communicator with experience developing communication plans and products across sectors, from think-tanks to nonprofits to public-sector institutions. Erica most recently worked for the Official Opposition at Queen’s Park, advising political leaders and Members of Provincial Parliament on communications strategies and rapid response measures. She has been at the heart of some of the biggest news in Ontario and knows what it takes to tell an impactful story.
Erica has worked on NDP election campaigns across Ontario and has spent time working in El Salvador and China. She has a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from the University of Toronto’s Munk School, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Media and the Public Interest from Western University. -
Aaron O’Quinn
Consultant
Aaron brings experience in communication, writing, and research in government, non-profit, and academic settings. Across these roles he has acted as a researcher, writer, and editor, identifying the key elements from a broader set of issues so that our clients can advocate for policy solutions that are in their best interest. His education is situated in the Humanities and has been interdisciplinary in practice, which has allowed him to conduct research across disciplines and make deliberate connections between disparate fields of knowledge.
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Laurel Lennox
Consultant
Laurel Lennox is an experienced communicator, with five years of experience working as a former federal political staffer. She led media relations during the pandemic for two federal ministers: Minister of Transport and created communications plans for the Minister of Industry on government priorities such as, green investments, marketplace competition, and consumer protection. Laurel is well-versed in coordinating between multiple levels of government for funding and policy decisions, as well as crisis response situations. She has key knowledge of the transport sector, clean technology sector, and economic development policy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University in History and Economics. Laurel is a natural problem solver and strives to deliver tailored and effective results for clients and communities. Born and raised in Montreal, she is also fluently bilingual.
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Ben Carriere
Consultant
Ben Carriere is an experienced former political staffer who has worked for two Indigenous members of Parliament during his time on the Hill. He understands the challenges that progressive organizations face and is eager to help guide clients through the complex Parliamentary machine. Ben has extensive campaign experience, most recently providing stakeholder outreach for a major political party during the 2025 federal election. He is also familiar with large projects, having worked on VIA Rail Canada’s government relations team as they successfully lobbied the federal government to fund two major infrastructure investments.
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Dorian Reid
Junior Consultant
Dorian is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in project management and client service, honed through diverse roles in both the hospitality industry and military service. With a genuine passion for community engagement, Dorian actively contributes to efforts that strengthen relationships within his community, particularly focusing on youth development through part-time work. Dorian holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology with a Minor in Law from Carleton University, complemented by an educational background in police studies. As a proud member of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, Dorian is committed to serving his community and fostering connections that promote understanding and collaboration.
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Sarah Smith
Consultant
Sarah is a thoughtful communicator and adaptable professional with experience across government, research, and public-facing roles. She joins Blackbird Strategies from the federal public service, where she worked on issues that Canadians care deeply about. Her background spans work in academic and historical research, cultural institutions, and community-focused initiatives, including time spent overseas and involvement in human-rights-oriented projects. She also brings experience in student leadership, writing, and journalism from her academic years. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from McGill University and a law degree from the University of Kent in England, where she focused on cybersecurity and privacy and international humanitarian law. She is driven by a curiosity for people and policy, and by a commitment to thoughtful, community-minded work.