Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada (H+K)—the country’s top-rated public relations and public affairs firm—is pleased to announce that Mark Cameron will be the firm’s deputy practice leader of its national energy practice, effective January 2, 2014.

“We continue to see tremendous growth in Canada’s energy sector, and the potential for future growth in the sector remains positive. Increasing our depth of expertise helps H+K and its clients evolve as the sector itself is evolving,” says Mike Coates, chairman and CEO of H+K. “Mark’s deep public-policy expertise, both here in Canada and globally, and breadth of experience across the energy, natural resources and technology sectors, is a unique skill set that will help us grow our practice and solve client challenges.”

Mark’s experience is vast and concentrated in energy, technology and the environment. His previous high-profile roles include the Office of the Prime Minister, where, as the director of policy and research he helped co-ordinate the federal cabinet policy-making process and was involved in crafting the government’s throne speeches and electoral platforms.

Later, as director of strategic initiatives and senior policy advisor, he spearheaded auto-sector policy and climate-change developments that resulted in federal-provincial support for major automakers and ultimately reshaped Canada’s federal climate policy; in this role, he also conducted stakeholder relations with business and non-governmental organizations.

At Ontario Power Generation (OPG), as director of corporate affairs, Mark helped develop the utility’s nuclear-generation strategy and OPG’s position on climate-change issues in discussion with federal and provincial officials. And most recently, at BlackBerry, he led public policy issues at the international level and helped co-ordinate strategies for sales to government, supporting the company’s local government relations teams throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

“In a sector that is focused on growing both capacity and distribution in Western and Eastern Canada, Mark’s understanding of government complexity is an advantage for clients across the country,” adds Coates. “Our integrated energy service offering is already unmatched by any public relations, public affairs or government relations firm across the country—adding Mark to the team will help us continue to trailblaze.”

Mark is on the boards of directors for the Canadian-American Business Council and Cardus; the steering committee of Sustainable Prosperity; the advisory council of the Pembina Institute; and previously served on the board of the Canada-India Business Council and the Ottawa board of the Canada-Eurasia-Russia Business Association.

Mark studied political science at McGill Univeristy and the University of British Columbia—during which time Mark received a NATO fellowship in Brussels, Belgium, and had several papers published in academic journals—earning bachelor of arts (Hons.) and master’s degrees from the University of British Columbia.

Mark will provide clients with strategic advice while complying with the Federal Accountability Act.

About H+K’s energy practice

The firm’s full-service energy practice offers clients unparalleled expertise in the oil, natural gas, nuclear, coal, hydro, solar and wind sectors. A multi-disciplinary team in offices across Canada helps clients navigate the increasingly complex energy-sector environment—everything from capital investments and resource development to transmission and marketing to environmental and community issues positioning.