David P. Leonard Email & Phone Number

Canada

Leading an acclaimed Canadian cultural non-profit that supports and celebrates Canadian writers and writing through a portfolio of programs including twelve literary awards, financial grants, career development initiatives for emerging writers, and a writers’ retreat. The Writers’ Trust is designed to champion excellence in Canadian writing, to improve the status of writers, and to create connections between writers and readers.

Canada

Engaging in short, medium, and longer-term contracts in non-profit and arts strategy, public programming and engagement, communications, fundraising, and organizational development. Current and recent clients include leading universities, national policy organizations, national non-profits, boutique communications firms, and community-level charities.As part of this work, I've produced several youth-focused national initiatives with events and partnerships in nine provinces and territories, built impact-driven summits for numerous corporate and non-profit clients, developed fundraising and partnerships plans for several non-profits, engaged with universities to guide them to pilot new projects and partnerships, provided public outreach strategic recommendations for numerous purpose-driven orgs, built and facilitated strategic planning processes, and much more.

Toronto

Led a dynamic, rapidly growing project and team devoted to global conversations, research, policy, and advocacy on citizenship and inclusion. Evolved an events program into a focused international program in four countries, and developing a compelling content strategy for social change, including writing, multimedia, journalism, and public education and outreach. Responsible for pivoting the 6 Degrees brand from a single event to one with network hubs in Germany, Mexico, Toronto, and Calgary and weekly content to a large network, while also raising necessary operating funds and reducing expenses by more than 60%. This work grew the audience from a few thousand, to hundreds of thousands globally.During the COVID-19 crisis, I lead the team that pivoted the brand to digital, launching journalism, online video production, social media storytelling, weekly content, and a unique digital event, attracting more than 20,000 viewers, while also fundraising to sustain the organization during the turmoil of the pandemic.

Toronto And National

Led a dynamic events team creating a content-rich, revenue-positive series of national events. Oversaw the conception, creation, and execution of a Walrus events program, did one-on-one training and content development for a thousand speakers, and raised millions of dollars in sponsorship revenue. As founding producer of the Walrus Talks, I increased event revenue by more than 400% while expanding the audience for the Walrus brand in all thirteen Canadian provinces and territories. I produced hundreds of culturally important national conversations with leading thinkers and large audiences across Canada. These events fulfilled the educational mandate of the non-profit Walrus Foundation while also creating financial sustainability and a strong brand and market presence for an ever-evolving organization.

Canada

Provided my expertise in writing, publicity, and advocacy to numerous successful campaigns for a variety of environmental NGOs, including Greenpeace, Stand, David Suzuki Foundation, Canopy, and others. Provided my book publicity expertise to a number of book projects from mid-size and large Canadian publishers, and also wrote regular book review columns for Canada's top literary trade magazine, Quill & Quire.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Led a flagship campaign for successful environmental not-for-profit with a mission to protect climate, biodiversity and frontier forests by helping major paper consumers shift their buying practices toward more sustainable models. I worked directly with large publishers to improve their environmental footprint, often working alongside their internal team. During this time, I sat on the environmental committee of Canada's largest book retailer, presented regularly at conferences in Canada and the USA, and made significant progress on the issue, securing commitments and action across the sector.

Led the publicity department of Penguin Canada, including departmental budgeting, hands-on publicity work for some of the world's best-known authors, and leading the corporate communications through a CEO transition.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Helped launch the Toronto office of Raincoast Books, and its new publishing program. I worked directly with hundreds of authors, events, and media contacts to position the books, authors, and company as an important contributor to the Canadian publishing landscape. This involved speaking at conferences in Canada and the US, and representing the organization at major events in Canadian publishing.

Bolton, Ontario, Canada

Managed publicity relationships and Canadian campaigns with numerous US and UK distribution clients, including St. Martin's Press, Warner, MacMillan, and worked with blockbuster US and UK authors including Jamie Oliver, Johnny Rotten, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Robert Jordan, Etgar Keret, and many more.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Worked with a fast-paced, small-but-growing freelance firm providing publicity and other publishing services to clients across Canada. This work included helping publishers pivot to digital, co-authoring the first major report on ebooks for the Association of Canadian Publishers, and representing our clients at the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Beijing International Book Fair.

Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Coordinated US and Canadian publicity campaigns (including proactive media relations, author tours, trade shows), sales (including external sales calls and internal phone work, catalogue development, and database maintenance) for a Canadian book publisher and its distributed clients.