IABC Edmonton 2023-24 Board of Directors
IABC’s Edmonton board of directors come from all levels and backgrounds, sharing a love for business communication and community, and a belief that professional development should be exciting, inspiring, and fun.
Our volunteer board is voted on each year at the annual general meeting, which is held at our Capital Awards event. Make sure you come out! It’s a great time, and your vote is important.
The board leadership is a trinity role, with an individual serving one year as executive vice-president, one year as president, and one year as past president.
If you have a general inquiry for the board, contact us.
And be sure to check out our Board Update for the latest board or chapter news.
Executive Board
Past President
Elizabeth Bunney (she/her/hers)
Elizabeth Bunney is a 2Spirited third generation Métis Citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta residing on Treaty 6 territory in amiskwaciwaskihikan. A communications professional with over 19 years of experience in the field, she uses her gift for connecting and storytelling along with her passion for inclusive communications working with Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients and organizations on their reconciliation journeys. Her previous roles specialized in internal communications, marketing and communications, as well as social media management and event production.
Elizabeth is passionate and powerful, sharing the positive personal experience she has with IABC with everyone she meets, encouraging others to connect with an incredible organization of communicators. She is an exemplary strategic planner, event planner, crisis and issues manager, relationship builder and key-message developer. When not involved with IABC, you can find her cheering on her two adult sons in their latest achievements while experiencing all that Turtle Island has to offer.
Senior Director, Administration
Delainey Neddow (she/her/hers)
A career in communications wasn’t on Delainey’s radar when she completed her bachelor’s degree, but there was little surprise when she ended up in the communications department of a large non-profit after graduating. She had already spent most of her life using language and stories to drive genuine connection. When she found out you could make a career out of that, she jumped in heart first and never looked back.
Delainey has had the opportunity to leverage her strategic mind in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Currently, she’s leveraging her skillset as the Senior Advisor, Employee Communications and Culture at EPCOR. When she’s not writing, you can find Delainey elbow-deep in a new baking project or slowly chipping away at her to-be-read pile.
This will be Delainey’s first year on IABC Edmonton’s Board of Directors, and she’s excited to serve alongside such a passionate group of communicators.
Senior Director, Finance
Vacant
More details to come!
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
Jessica Proeller, MEd
Jessica is so excited to be joining the board as the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications.
As a 2017 University of Guelph-Humber grad, Jessica got her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Media Studies from the University of Guelph and Diploma in Media Communications from Humber College. In July 2023, she earned her Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education (Leadership) from Athabasca University.
After moving to Alberta from Ontario in 2019, she is currently a Communications Officer at Athabasca University. In her role, she supports and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders across the university, interviews and writes learner and researcher profiles, assists with social media content, focuses on content accessibility, writes a comms plan or two, and helps with e-newsletter content and internal communications.
Tailing her masters research focusing on content accessibility and inclusive leadership, Jess is extremely passionate about content accessibility and is excited to bring that passion to IABC Edmonton.
When she’s not at work, you can find her walking her two German Shepherds, Luna and Maverick, out taking photos or tinkering with her (many) plants, traveling, or whipping up something yummy in the kitchen with her husband.
Senior Director, Volunteers
Mark is a Communications Specialist at Strathcona County in the Family and Community Services department. Working with community support workers and providing communications to make social services more accessible is an area Mark is passionate about. Breaking into the communications industry in 2021 during the height of the pandemic, Mark is now able to flex his writing and storytelling skills in new ways. Mark volunteered his time for IABC’s Volunteer Connect Program for two years and has now taken on the role of Senior Director, Volunteers, hoping to provide members with the same excellent volunteer experience and opportunities that he had. Outside of work you can find Mark in the mountains, playing video/board games with friends, watching movies and cruising the restaurant scene in Edmonton!
Senior Director, Membership
Adriana is so excited to be making her return to the IABC Edmonton Board this year. She previously served as Capital Awards Co-Chair and Special Events Director from 2015 – 2018. IABC Edmonton played a key role early in her career and she is thrilled to be jumping into the Membership role to share with other amazing communications professionals in Edmonton.
Currently a Senior Communications Advisor with AHS, Adriana has proudly worked in the public sector her entire career. She graduated from the University of Alberta in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and decided to take her love of writing and research and explore the world of Communications. Since completing the MacEwan Public Relations Diploma in 2013, she has worked in continuing education with EPSB, media relations, infrastructure and ETS with the City of Edmonton, and now public health promotion, rural community hospitals and addictions and mental health with AHS.
Crushing briefing notes and proactive media by day, by night she enjoys the local foodie scene with her husband, the latest Netflix/Prime/Crave series and managing her pups Fred and Mercury’s rising social media stardom.
Senior Director, Programming
Daniella is a communications professional with a passion for professional development and building connections, which is what led her to the IABC board. With several years of experience in crafting strong and impactful communications, as well as a master’s degree in professional communications, she is excited to work alongside and learn from fellow communicators on the IABC Board.
During the pandemic, she made the decision to leave the private sector and go into the healthcare field where she felt her work would be more impactful and make a difference. She currently works as a Communications Advisor with a small team at Covenant Health. Not one to shy away from chaos, working in a fast-paced environment is best suited for her, and she certainly found this in healthcare. Her main passions in the field are crisis communications, change management, stakeholder analysis, and content strategy.
As a passion project, Daniella owns a cookie business in her spare time. You will normally find her outside of working hours in her kitchen testing new recipes, playing with new decorating tools, or just baking some of her tried-and-true favourites.
Leadership Committee
Director, Student Development
Nicin worked in the media and communications industry in India for almost four years before moving to Canada in 2017. She found a career in banking and worked there, dreaming about shifting to communications eventually. During her maternity leave, she decided to go back to school and pursued a Diploma in Public Relations from Grant MacEwan University. In the middle of a freaking pandemic and rafting between school, home, and a seven-months old, she found life. Currently, she works in the Marketing Communications department of Swagelok Edmonton, a home away from home. She identifies her strong suits for writing, digital marketing, strategic communications planning, social media, and internal communications. As a first-time board member, Nicin is excited to work with her peers at IABC and help new students to take advantage of the opportunities IABC provides. Away from work, you will see her performing Indian Classical and Folk dance for public events in Edmonton or chilling with her husband and toddler boy.
Director, Capital Awards
Kara Paul
More details to come!
Director, Member Relations
Vanessa is thrilled to be joining the IABC Edmonton Board of Directors this year. As a former IABC student member and volunteer, she has found value in being part of the Edmonton chapter and connecting with like-minded communicators.
Graduating from the University of Alberta in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English, storytelling was a natural path forward for her career. She embarked on furthering her education and refining her skill-set by completing the Public Relations Diploma program at MacEwan University in 2018 – setting her up for a successful start with the Communications and Community Engagement team at Alberta Health Services.
In her current role with AHS, Vanessa works with proactive media, storytelling and social media in the dynamic and fast-paced portfolio of Public Health.
As a first-time Board Member, Vanessa looks forward to giving back to the IABC community and helping others take advantage of the opportunities their membership can provide.
When she’s not monitoring social media or setting up the next great proactive, you can find her exploring our great city, reading her favourite book, hitting up a spin class or planning her next great solo adventure.
Director, Mentorship
Rory is a story-teller by nature and has applied this approach to his work for over 10 years. With a master’s degree in professional communication, Rory has lived in the worlds of communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement and event planning in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors. Currently, Rory is the communications manager at FKA, an Edmonton-based marketing and communications agency. Previously, Rory worked with the Government of Alberta as a communications advisor in the ministries of Children’s Services and Human Services. He also worked at MacEwan University as a communications and events specialist for the School of Business. Rory is thrilled to be a part of the IABC Edmonton board and looks forward to creating connections with and for established stalwart professionals and talented future leaders as the director of mentorship.
Director, Social Media
Jenna currently works to support Alberta’s water and wastewater operators through the Membership Services position at the Alberta Water & Wastewater Operators Association. In this role she performs a variety of functions including communications and membership coordination, program assistance and registration services. When away from the office, you can catch her volunteering at one of Edmonton’s many festivals, catching up on some Netflix or watching an Oilers game.
She holds a degree in Communications from MacEwan University and has previously volunteered her time with IABC in social media, professional development and events. Jenna is excited to return to IABC as the Director, Social Media promoting all things IABC!
Director, Content
Maneesha is a creative communications professional, with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Marketing and minoring in International Business. Having worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors, Maneesha brings a range of experience and skills to the IABC team, including writing, digital content creation and project management.
Valuing equity and inclusion, Maneesha volunteers as the Social Media Coordinator for Didihood, a Canadian non-profit and collective of South Asian women in creative industries including media, film and music. Maneesha is also passionate about all things pop-culture and artistic; in her free time, you can find her baking, working on various crafty projects, listening to music in different languages, and watching the latest movies and shows.
Maneesha is excited to be part of the IABC team as the Director of Content, where she can connect with and learn from others in her field!
Director, Professional Development and Certification
Megan Candie, CMP
Megan is excited to join a skilled group of professionals on the IABC Edmonton board. She works as a senior communications officer with Sturgeon County, supporting multiple government departments with all things strategic communications. Megan has worked in the public sector at the municipal level since 2013 and previously worked as a print journalist.
She earned her Communications Management Professional certification in 2022, and through her role on the board, looks forward to helping other communications professionals earn their certifications.
She has a communications degree, a university diploma in each public relations and journalism, and a growing stack of certificates. She’s trained in public participation and emergency management, and recently joined a team of public servants who support municipalities in north-central Alberta during emergencies. Megan is hungry to learn and grow, and is excited to share her passion for professional development with members.
When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with her husband, daughter and pug, taking a course, gardening and spending time outdoors (preferably in the mountains or on the water).