Sphere of Influence

Working with industry leaders to achieve success

and mitigate risks along the way

Sphere of Influence

Working with industry leaders to achieve success

and mitigate risks along the way

Our Approach

Strategic Planning – Communications – Public Affairs

We work with industries that are subject to public scrutiny and government regulations. Our specialization is aligning strategies, communications and advocacy efforts to support organizational goals.

In particular, socially contentious sectors face opposition from a range of stakeholders resulting in government regulatory challenges and key initiatives being stymied. The impacts on businesses, jobs and the economy are incalculable.

We work with you to secure government support, shape policy direction, and mitigate risks.

Our goal is to protect and build a company’s social license to operate by:

Defining business goals in a clear and positive manner to align with societal values.
Creating strategies and action plans to achieve successful outcomes.
Developing partnerships and communities of interest to support your goals.
Building relations with governments and stakeholders to enable positive momentum.

Leadership

Elena Mantagaris

Elena has over 25 years of experience establishing partnerships with governments and communities to advance large-scale projects subject to regulatory review and public scrutiny in the plastics, energy, iron, transportation, technology, and cultural sectors.

Her career has spanned roles as a public servant, corporate lead for government relations, and a consultant. This has allowed her to bring a diversity of perspectives to the table for clients in the development of organizational strategies, communications plans, and public affairs approaches.

Fluently bilingual, Elena’s work has included securing support from governments and stakeholders for a $20 billion nuclear initiative across the federal government and 5 provinces (Québec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick). On behalf of the plastics industry, she reshaped the relationship between the sector and governments by shifting the narrative from solely punitive regulatory measures to viewing industry as a partner and technology solution provider with a shared vision for zero plastic waste in a low-carbon circular economy. Earlier in her career, Elena was part of the core team in the federal government creating alignment across over a dozen departments to establish online single-window service delivery for Canadians, which transitioned to become Service Canada.

Elena has sat on boards and advisory councils for organizations such as the Responsible Gambling Council, Historica, and Odyssey Theatre. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Queen’s University.

Key Practice Areas

Energy

Mining & Minerals

Plastics

From pipelines to nuclear, we tackle misinformation and engage directly with communities to build support for projects.

Plastics

Mining & Minerals

Plastics

From single-use to recycling, we reframe the value of plastics with
governments and society as a key enabler to a low carbon circular economy.

Mining & Minerals

From responsible mining practices to critical minerals, we promote innovations and environmentally sustainable actions in the sector in support of our modern life.

Transportation

Mining & Minerals

From highways to railways, we help you navigate regulatory requirements to build transportation routes and move goods.

Key Accomplishments

Influenced Outcomes Through Partnerships

Redefined relationship between plastics industry and governments by shifting narrative from punitive regulatory measures to viewing industry as a partner and technology solution provider with a shared vision for zero plastic waste in a low-carbon circular economy.
Secured support from governments and stakeholders for technically complex and socially contentious $20B national nuclear infrastructure project.
Achieved stakeholder alignment across federal departments to successfully implement online, citizen-centric delivery of government services, which evolved to become Service Canada.
Enabled development of Canadian cultural industries through negotiation of international MOUs for film co-productions.

Led Strategic Business Planning

Influenced Outcomes Through Partnerships

Wrote 5-year strategic planning framework for national nuclear infrastructure project addressing site selection, regulatory approvals, and moving the organization to selected site.
Collaboratively developed & implemented government-wide strategy for single-window online service delivery and facilitated change management process to establish Service Canada.
Wrote Defence R&D strategy for infrastructure investments to achieve mission-critical outcomes for the Canadian Forces.
Wrote e-government strategy & action plan for Government of The Bahamas to improve service delivery, increase efficiencies and modernize the public service.

Targeted Communications & Engagement

Influenced Outcomes Through Partnerships

Targeted Communications & Engagement

Led development of public communications campaign on plastics to address misinformation and reshape public narrative.
Advanced business priorities as lead organizational representative in meetings, conferences, and workshops.
Developed range of strategic communications plans & materials.
Raised public awareness of Canadian history through collaborative development of ‘Heritage Minutes’ TV commercials.