Kathleen Walsh

Lead Public Affairs Counsellor

With more than a decade of experience providing strategic advice, and leading advocacy campaigns and operations for non-profits and small businesses, Kathleen brings the skills and knowledge needed to drive transformative change.

As a public affairs counsellor, she has expertly guided clients through major crises affecting national supply chains and has worked closely with clients in federally regulated sectors such as maritime employers, regional airlines and telecommunications. Kathleen also guides clients in agriculture and agri-food, and creative industries including in promoting Canadian children’s content, and developing well-funded and strong museums that tell Canada’s stories in an honest and authentic way. Her strategic thinking, ability to leverage her communication skills with political acumen and her strong understanding of public policy issues in the national landscape ensures clients are always set up to win.

Kathleen adeptly orchestrates collaborative efforts and fosters innovation across governments non-profits, academic institutions, and businesses to affect meaningful change.

Prior to joining Compass Rose, Kathleen served as the interim executive director in addition to the policy director at Evidence for Democracy where she played a pivotal role in cultivating partnerships with scientists, researchers, and students while imparting them with the integral skills to actively participate in the policy arena. Her influential contributions extended to shaping policy trajectories, increasing funding for basic research and government science in three federal budgets.

Kathleen capitalizes on her extensive background to help Compass Rose clients formulate and execute ambitious strategies and tactical initiatives. She played a leading role helping to set up Compass Rose’s groundbreaking proprietary election project, Out Front, where clients were able to stay on top of the issues that mattered to them at the national, regional and riding levels.

Originally from Windsor, Ont., Kathleen has a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University and a Master of Science in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

You can usually find Kathleen outside for a hike or walk with her active toddler, rescue dog and husband Graham (who also works at Compass Rose!), or with her nose in the latest award-winning fiction (ask her about the latest, hottest book, she’s probably reading it!)