Kimberly Hicks Email & Phone Number

I am an award-winning, strategic communications professional with more than 15 years of experience in the public sector. My expertise lies in strategic communication planning, project management, and public engagement. I have excellent media relations skills as well and issues/crisis management. I am highly experienced at taking complex material and summarizing it into user-friendly language. I excel at developing strong working relationships with clients and finding a 'story to tell' within any project. I also have valuable experience in the private sector as a journalist at daily newspapers; it was here where my interviewing, writing, and editing skills were honed.I am most proud of leading the Mississauga Transitway project - the largest construction project the city had undertaken. I planned the official opening and successfully had media coverage from every major outlet in the GTA. My tenacity as a reporter led me to develop and nurture a native affairs beat at the Chronicle-Journal in Thunder Bay, where I worked tirelessly to develop and maintain strong and trusting relationships with the First Nations community. Accomplishments• Provided internal/external communications during COVID-19 & the SARS pandemic and led innovative initiatives such as successful media pitches and daily communication to staff• Developed a successful Distracted Driving campaign for the City of Mississauga Road Safety Committee • Planned, managed, and worked closely with the mayor's office on the 2019 construction projects media event • Promoted and led a media event for the Transitway Express route launch to Toronto Pearson International Airport. AwardsI am an award-winning communicator with an IABC Gold Quill Award, five-time City of Mississauga Corporate Award winner, and a three-time Bravo Award winner (Canadian Communicators in Education (CACE - national award).I have an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies and Visual Arts and a Diploma in Journalism. In 2020, I completed a writing and editing course at George Brown College. In 2024, I began the Plain Language certificate program at Simon Fraser University.SpecialtiesWriting and content editing, plain language, external and internal communications, strategic communications, issues management, media relations, social media, digital media, public engagement, presentation skills, facilitation, team leadership, negotiation, relationship building, project management, speech writing, presentations, annual reports, newsletters, print production, photography, video scripts /production.