Tamara brings 25 years+ experience in corporate communications, public affairs and government relations to her clients, including 5 years as Owner and Chief Client Advisor of Coast Communications and Public Affairs, a boutique office in Vancouver, B.C. Before that she spent 8 years at Canada’s top two public relations and public affairs firms leading both PR and GR accounts, including nationally. Before that she spent 11 years in public service advising Ministers and Mayors in B.C. municipal and provincial governments including as a communications director in the B.C. Government.
Tamara’s main interest is how to bring an integrated set of solutions to help clients communicate with audiences and achieve broad support for major infrastructure and other projects. As a trained social scientist (Anthropologist) Tamara is committed to using research and insights on which to base programs.
Tamara’s clients have included some of B.C.'s largest companies and organizations, including marine shippers, terminals and ports, business associations, regulated utilities, energy sector, including renewables, natural gas and LNG projects and associations, forestry and mining companies, associations, universities, transportation organizations, municipal governments, Indigenous Governments and organizations, not-for-profits and others.
Tamara spent seven years in B.C. Government communications, in Manager and Director roles, leading all communications for the Ministries of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources, Transportation and the Treaty Negotiations Office. She also served as communications, government relations and marketing director for Partnerships BC, the provincially-owned company responsible for public capital project procurement. Before that she ran a B.C.-wide consultation program for the Legislature on treaty negotiations, and spent four years advising Mayors and City Managers on Aboriginal relations and treaty negotiations.
Tamara has honours Undergraduate and Master’s Degrees in Anthropology from UBC, focused on BC Indigenous Nations.
Tamara grew up in small-town B.C. in Penticton, and lives in East Vancouver with her husband and son. She is an avid creator, including painting, sewing and calligraphy and loves to read.
She has a passion for community volunteering and governance. She is the former Chair of the Kettle Friendship Society Board, a mental health care and housing organization; the former Chair of the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House as well as its Fundraising Committee; the former chair of the Public Affairs Association of Canada BC Chapter and is a member of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. She is trained in public engagement and consultation through the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2).