Jeanne Sauvé Career Development Program

In Canada’s broadcast and communications industry, knowledge is power. The WCT Jeanne Sauvé Career Development Program is a “backstage pass" to the private and public sectors of the industry. This intensive learning experience offers new perspectives, insights and direct access to influential policy and regulatory decision makers and equips participants with new ways to think, work and springboard their careers. If you work in telecommunications or the media industry and are interested in policy and program design, this program is a unique way to gain unparalleled access to the area of communications regulation and policy.

About the Program

The WCT Jeanne Sauvé Career Development Program is a self-directed program that offers an in-depth look at communications regulation and policy. Six participants – one each from Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), Canadian Heritage and the CRTC and three from private-sector organizations – take part in a two-week rotation. They work together to create a customized agenda that meets the objectives and interests of the group. Participants learn first-hand how private industry, government and regulatory agencies respond to new issues and challenges. They also examine questions about program design, strategy and how best to meet the needs of customers, legislators and stakeholders.

Who can apply to the program?

Private Sector

WCT members working in management or preparing for a management role in the communications industry with a background or experience that makes this program's policy and regulatory focus relevant. We encourage participants from Canada's largest media and broadcast companies and smaller broadcast organizations. 

Public sector

WCT members working for Canadian Heritage, ISED or the CRTC. If you are interested in participating on behalf on another public sector organization, please contact us.

Current Program Participants

We congratulate the women below who were selected to participate in the latest program cohort.

Heidi Baiden, Program Director - London and Kitchener-Waterloo, Bell Media

Heidi Baiden is a broadcast professional with twenty-five years experience in the field as an On-Air Announcer, Producer, Account Executive, and now Program Director. She began her radio career at the University of Windsor, with what was once CHUM Group Radio. From there she worked in Programming, Accounting, Promotions - just about every department in a radio station. In 2011, she moved to Kitchener Waterloo for a Radio Sales role. The knowledge she gained about the business side of the business has been invaluable. After a couple of years in that role, in 2014 Bell Media offered her the Program Director role for their KW stations. She recently completed a Masters in Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree at Western University and is ready to put that learning - combined with her professional experience - to use.

Marie-Claire Bouthillier, Gestionnaire / Manager, Règlement des différends / Dispute Resolution, CRTC

Following the conclusion of her studies in administration and economics in 2011, Marie-Claire Bouthillier worked for five years as an analyst at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). In 2017, she embarked on a journey around the world in order to immerse herself in new cultures and live new work experiences. Back in Canada since April 2018, she rejoined the CRTC and now works as Manager, Dispute Resolution in telecom on a full-time basis from home in Montreal.

Caroline Kennedy, Manager of Satellite Authorization Policy, Innovation Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada

Caroline Kennedy is the Manager of Satellite Authorization Policy at Innovation Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada. She has 19 years of experience in the spectrum management program at ISED where she held a wide variety of positions. Caroline gained significant experience in the field of spectrum management by processing radio frequency applications, solving radiocommunication interference, participating in the drafting of amendments to the Radiocommunication Act, drafting replies to ministerial inquiries, and developing national policies regarding licensing and operation of radio apparatus, siting of antenna towers as well as compliance/enforcement under the Radiocommunication Act. As the manager of Satellite Authorization Policy is responsible for the policy framework related to the licensing of Satellites and grounds stations. Caroline holds a diploma from Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology in Electronics Engineering Technology.

Felicia Mazzarello, Policy Analyst, Marketplace and Legislative Policy team, Broadcasting, Copyright, and Creative Marketplace Branch, Cultural Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage

Felicia Mazzarello is a Policy Analyst in the Broadcasting, Copyright, and Creative Marketplace Branch in the Cultural Affairs Sector of Canadian Heritage. Since joining the Department in 2018, she has contributed to a variety of policy related products including proposals for legislative change to the Broadcasting Act and the creation of the Digital Citizenship Initiative. She has also participated in interdepartmental and intergovernmental engagement sessions as well as provided input into domestic legal proceedings. Felicia obtained Civil and Common Law degrees, as well as a Bachelors of Arts, from McGill University, and is a member of the Ontario Bar. Prior to joining Canadian Heritage, she gained legal experience working as a student in an international corporate law firm, and policy experience acting as an intern for the Permanent Mission of Canada to the International Organizations in Vienna.

Nina Shipillo, Senior Regulatory Legal Counsel, TELUS

Nina Shipillo joined the broadcasting policy and regulatory affairs team at TELUS last year, in the role of a Senior Regulatory Legal Counsel, after six years in private practice as a civil litigator. She started her legal career in the plaintiff’s bar, later on moving into insurance defence. Over the last three years of her private practice, she represented insurers before administrative tribunals and arbitrators in accident benefit claims, loss transfer proceedings, and priority disputes. In addition to insurance litigation, she also provided strategic advice on regulatory compliance, coverage issues, and risk exposure. Her academic background consists of a Bachelor in Finance and Economics from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto, followed by a Juris Doctor degree from the law faculty at the University of Western Ontario. Earlier in her career, she had the privilege to intern as a short term consultant for the World Bank in Washington, DC. This was a formative experience that exposed her to the interplay of private and public sectors on the global scene. She was involved in several international projects, working directly with senior government officials and key stakeholders on economic policies, insolvency regulations, procedural implementations, and corporate restructuring frameworks. Working from the perspective of an international financial institution allowed her to develop a comprehensive view on economic governance and public policy. Her transition into the telecommunications and broadcasting industry as an in-house counsel has brought her back full circle to doing regulatory advocacy work, in an effort to have a greater impact on the lives of Canadians across the nation.

Kseniya Veretelnik, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Cogeco Communications Inc.

After having completed a Bachelor's degree in civil law and a common law Juris Doctor, Kseniya Veretelnik began her career in labor and employment law, advising employers on issues related to their employees. In 2018, seeking new professional challenges, she found herself immersed in the fields of telecommunications and broadcasting at Cogeco, a Québec-based radio broadcaster and cable operator providing Internet, video and telephony services. Since her arrival at Cogeco, she has been privileged to be involved in a number of significant regulatory and policy issues. Outside of work, she has been involved in the organization of several fundraising events, mainly in arts and health. From 2019, she has been serving on the board of directors of Key to Workplace Integration of Immigrants (Clef pour l’intégration au travail des immigrants). In 2019, she was selected by Concertation Montreal as one of 30 young diversity ambassadors, with the purpose of promoting diversity in the workplace, on boards of directors and in leadership positions. Most recently, she also joined WCT’s regional Québec chapter as a board member.