About Us
The Canadian Public Relations Society of Vancouver Island (CPRS-VI) is a vibrant and growing community of public relations practitioners, leaders and scholars.
We are part of a federation of 13 member societies across Canada, comprised of men and women who practice public relations in Canada and abroad. Together under the umbrella of CPRS, we work to maintain the highest standards and to share a uniquely Canadian experience in public relations.
CPRS is a member of the Global Alliance, an organization created to promote and represent national associations for public relations and communications. Over 60 countries are Global Alliance members including Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, the United States, India and New Zealand.
Your Leadership Team
President
ALLI BOYD
Alli Boyd (she/they) has been volunteering with the Canadian Public Relations Society since 2020 and is honoured to have the responsibility of being the chapter’s President. Alli spent over ten years working in medical sales while honing her communications skills through special projects and volunteering. Her interest in connecting with people through communication led her to become a lead organizer of Veg Fest Vancouver. When it came time to pursue higher education, Alli knew communications was the right field to study and she has since completed the Diploma in Public Relations from the University of Victoria and the Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University where she was awarded the President’s Scholar Award.
Alli is currently completing the Master of Arts in Professional Communication at Royal Roads University. She is on a hiatus from work to complete her thesis project which was awarded a Canada Graduate Research Scholarship. Alli is studying authenticity and representation in pop culture and its effects on audiences using the Canadian television program Degrassi as a case study.
Treasurer
YOGITA BANG
Yogita Bang is a versatile communications specialist with a Master’s in Intercultural and International Communication from Royal Roads University. She blends her expertise in digital marketing, strategic communication, media relations, and customer relationship management with a strong foundation in business analysis, backed by her Entry Certificate in Business Analysis from the International Institute of Business Analysis. Proficient in tools like Adobe Suite, Canva, WordPress, MS Office, and web development, Yogita excels at creating dynamic multimedia content and optimizing for search engines.
Her professional journey includes coordinating large-scale events, managing cross-functional teams, and developing social media strategies that boost brand visibility. Yogita’s strengths lie in leveraging data to track KPIs, producing actionable analytics reports, and designing communication strategies that engage and inform. With her collaborative mindset and creative problem-solving approach, she thrives in building meaningful relationships and delivering strategic, tailored solutions for any organization.
Secretary
MICHELLE HARRIS, APR
Michelle has over 25 years of experience in strategic communications and public engagement. As the City of Victoria’s Strategic Planning and Communications Advisor, she has had the opportunity to work with just about every department over the past 16 years. Some highlights include the award-winning Prepare Victoria recipe for disaster public awareness campaign, the Victoria Reconciliation Dialogues series, public engagement for the Government Street Refresh project and engaging local equity-seeking groups to help inform the City’s annual budget.
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Michelle has her APR Accreditation in Public Relations from the Canadian Public Relations Society, has previously served on the CPRS-VI Board as a Member at Large, volunteered on local chapter events and has served as an APR grader for the CPRS national office.
Michelle also holds a Certificate in Public Participation from the International Association of Public Participation.
Communications Chair
BECKY HAYTON, MA
Becky Hayton (she/her) first found a love for digital communications when she created her first over-the-shoulder box for an in-school news assignment. Since that day, she has witnessed a digital revolution within the world which has created exciting new methods of messaging to reach audiences and amplify messages in more ways than ever before.
She has worked in both marketing and communications, starting out in advertising by creating commercials, and advanced her skills and education to focus on higher-level strategy and tactics. Her work within all three pillars (corporate, non-profit, and government) and her previous experience with owning her own communications consulting agency, gives Becky a big-picture perspective and a more holistic outlook on implementing and evaluating communications tools to achieve goals.
Becky graduated from the Master of Arts in Professional Communications at Royal Roads in 2023 and is currently employed as Communications Advisor for Cowichan Tribes.
Careers Chair
NEHA PANDE
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Neha Pande is a dynamic Communication Specialist with over 5 years of experience in the communications and research industry. Her cross-cultural competence and strong interpersonal skills enable her to thrive in diverse environments, while her commitment to professional development ensures she remains at the forefront of her field. She excels in creating and developing strategic communication plans and leveraging analytical prowess and research to engage with the requirements of diverse clients effectively and in an impactful manner. She, currently, works as a Researcher at Royal Roads University. She completed her Learning Project with the Community Office of Laurel Collins, MP of Victoria.
Neha’s mantra to successful strategy development is - Attention to Detail. Always.
Neha's professional journey reflects her ability to thrive in cross-cultural and diverse environments, demonstrating strong communication skills, along with her adept conflict resolution skills, fostering smooth and productive interactions. Neha brings a results-oriented approach to every project.
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Neha has a Masters in Intercultural and International Communications from Royal Roads University, 2024; Master of Arts in Women’s Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, 2017; and Bachelor of Arts in English Honours and Spanish as the Foreign Language from English and Foreign Languages University, 2015.
Director
NICOLE SENDEY, APR
Nicole Sendey is the Communications Manager of GPMC | NMC . Nicole brings to the table over 25 years of proven experience in strategic communications and stakeholder relations and has worked with clients in various industries that include real estate development, government relations, aviation, telehealth, and biotech sectors. She has managed stakeholder engagement campaigns, crisis communications and investor relations for both public and private sector clients, focused on creating innovative campaigns to engage with audiences.
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Nicole received her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and has attended and presented at several conferences and PR events. Nicole has been recognized for her volunteer work with numerous non-profit organizations and has served as a jury leader for the national CPRS awards.