NATIONAL Public Relations welcomes Karine Cousineau as Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs and Government Relations, in Toronto

NATIONAL is pleased to announce Karine Cousineau’s appointment to Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs and Government Relations, in the Toronto office. Karine will also join the Toronto senior leadership team.

With more than 20 years of experience in public affairs, government relations and strategic communications, Karine is a bilingual leader known for influencing policy, shaping public opinion, and driving advocacy in highly regulated industries. 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.

Prior to this, Karine held senior leadership roles at The Green Organic Dutchman and Lafarge Canada, where she advised executive teams on corporate affairs, led government relations strategies, and managed complex stakeholder environments. She also brings valuable experience from her time at Summa Strategies and on Parliament Hill, where she supported senior political leaders and developed a deep understanding of Canada’s political and regulatory landscape.

"With NATIONAL’s leading position in Government Relations and Public Affairs in Canada, we’re excited to welcome Karine to our Toronto office," said Jennifer McCormack, Managing Partner of NATIONAL’s Toronto office. "Karine brings exceptional depth of experience and strong relationships across the public affairs landscape, along with a proven ability to deliver meaningful outcomes for clients navigating complex regulatory environments. She will be a valuable addition to further strengthen our coast-to-coast team."

Throughout her career, Karine has built trusted relationships with policymakers, industry leaders and community stakeholders, positioning organizations for long-term success through thoughtful advocacy and strategic communications.