Karine Cousineau is Senior Vice-President and Practice Lead, Public Affairs and Government Relations at NATIONAL, based in Toronto. She brings more than 20 years of experience in public affairs, government relations and strategic communications, having worked across Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto.

A bilingual leader, Karine is recognized for her ability to influence public policy, shape public opinion, and advance advocacy efforts in highly regulated sectors. She brings deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, coalition building, and integrated communications, with a strong track record of delivering measurable results at both the federal and provincial levels.

Karine’s strategic and collaborative approach has enabled her to lead high-impact campaigns that align public policy objectives with business priorities. Most recently, as Vice-President, Strategic Communications at Beer Canada, she led national advocacy efforts that contributed to significant policy outcomes, including influencing federal excise tax decisions and mobilizing industry-wide engagement initiatives reaching millions of Canadians.

Previously, Karine held senior roles at The Green Organic Dutchman and Lafarge Canada, where she advised executive teams on corporate affairs, led government relations strategies, and navigated complex, multi-stakeholder environments. She also brings valuable experience from a leading public affairs consultancy and Parliament Hill, where she supported senior political leaders and developed a deep understanding of Canada’s political and regulatory landscape.