Marci Surkes

Chief Strategy Officer

Marci Surkes is a 15-year political veteran who has served in the most senior roles as an advisor and public policy leader. She brings deep experience and a national lens to complicated files spanning the entirety of federal jurisdiction. Marci currently advises multinational corporations, Canadian businesses, and non-profits across a range of economic, geopolitical and social issues, often targeted at the c-suite level. Her ability to distill complex subject matters and offer succinct advice has led her to be a sought-after political commentator.

As Executive Director of Policy and Cabinet Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office from 2019-2022, Marci led a team that provided strategic advice to the Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, and collaborated closely with officials to implement the government’s mandate through setting the agenda for Cabinet. From 2015 to 2019, Marci served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Public Safety, where she developed expertise in national security and intelligence matters, cybersecurity and emergency management. 

In 2024, Marci was appointed Practitioner-in-Residence to the Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management at Carleton University, where she has been a Fellow and an instructor since 2018. Marci holds a BCL and an LLB from the Faculty of Law at McGill University and a BA (Hons) from Brandeis University. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of the Parliamentary Centre and as a Director on the Board of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

In her spare time, Marci can often be found outdoors with her partner, two kids and 15-year-old bichon frise.