Provoke Public Affairs (formally “Provoke PR) specializes in tailored government relations, strategic communications, and advocacy strategies under the leadership of Sydney Oakes – an OLIP alumna and sponsor.
Before co-founding “Provoke Public Affairs, one of the only female led boutique firms in the country, Sydney has previously held prominent positions such as Director of Policy and Provincial Affairs for the Chiefs of Ontario, Strategic Partnerships Executive for the Young Diplomats of Canada, as well as Senior Consultant of Indigenous Services and Government Relations at MNP.
We are grateful for Sydney’s continued contributions to the Programme – from her commitment to Indigenous representation early on in 2016 coordinating an annual trip to Six Nations of the Grand River Territory – furthering each delegation of OLIP interns’ understanding of Indigenous issues – to her ongoing financial and mentorship support on a yearly basis.
We were captivated by Sydney’s anecdotes from her time with OLIP (i.e. “Your network is your net-worth”) and the invaluable wisdom she has gained throughout her career during our meeting. As we near the culmination of our own OLIP journey, we deeply appreciate the profound insights shared by herself and her team, which comprises of prominent OLIP alumni including Eric Zinn and Shireen Salti.
Sydney’s ability to invest in the Programme and its people continues to be an extraordinary contribution. These investments and insights will undoubtedly accompany us as we embark on our respective professional paths. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sydney and “Provoke Public Affairs for their unwavering support of the program, commitment to providing innovative and inclusive advocacy strategies to their clients, focus on social justice issues, and for graciously hosting the current OLIP Interns.