Barrack Hill Public Affairs has added Amanda McLaren as a vice president. In a statement shared with iPolitics, principal and […]


Barrack Hill Public Affairs has added Amanda McLaren as a vice president.
In a statement shared with iPolitics, principal and founding partner of the firm Stevie O’Brien stated, “I’m pleased to share that Amanda McLaren has joined Barrack Hill Public Affairs as Vice President […] She brings particular expertise in parliamentary affairs, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications, including experience supporting major legislative files such as the Cannabis Act and Senate modernization. We’re very pleased to have Amanda on the team and confident she will be a strong addition to our work”.
Most recently, she served as Chief of Staff to the Independent Senators Group at the Senate of Canada, where she worked for 5.5 years. Prior to that, she held various senior roles in the Senate working closely with both independent and Conservative senators, including in the Office of the Honourable Tony Dean and the Office of the Honourable Elizabeth Marshall in her capacity as Government Conservative Whip and Chair of the subcommittee on Audit and Oversight.


Looking elsewhere, Hayden Kenez joined Texture Communications as a director.
In a post made on LinkedIn, the firm announced Kenez’s hiring by stating, “Hayden brings a clear, strategic approach to navigating complex communications issues and shaping the message. He knows what it takes to move policies forward and deliver real results. Hayden has already hit the ground running with our clients, and we are proud to have him on the team!”
Previously, Kenez held a number of communications related positions, including at Ontario Finance, ONresources, the Office of the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Ontario Treasury Board Secretariat, which will surely be beneficial in his new role at Texture Communications.


Finally, Global Public Affairs has hired Holly Johnson as an executive communications coordinator.
In a post shared on LinkedIn Johnson expressed her excitement about her new position, stating, “I’m looking forward to working with a strong team under the leadership of Hannah Thibedeau, and getting to work delivering for clients […] to my new colleagues, thank you for the warm welcome — I can’t wait to get started!”
In her previous roles, Holly was a communications advisor at Global Affairs Canada for 2 years, managing to also find time to work as a deputy campaign manager for Liberal candidate Jennifer Lash.
Please send your tips about people in the government relations scene on the move to [email protected].






