Appointment of Julia Rim Shepard as Future Skills Centre’s Director, Strategic Communications
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Julia Rim Shepard to the Future Skills Centre (FSC) team as Director, Strategic Communications. Julia is an exceptional communicator with a 13-year career in the non-profit sector.
As a member of the leadership team, Julia will play an important role as the Centre focuses on building a forward-looking strategy to support Canada’s shift into the reset and rebuild phases of economic recovery. She will be responsible for various verticals including communications and content, marketing, and brand, and will play an integral role in the realization of the Centre’s strategic plan.
“I’m excited to join this team at such a pivotal time, as Canadians looking for jobs need the right skills for now but also for the future,” she says. “The way we work has changed so quickly in such a short period of time and as the country shifts into a phase of economic recovery, connecting with our communities and innovators across sectors is of utmost importance. Together, we can shape what the future will be.”
Julia has distinguished herself as an outstanding leader with progressively senior roles at World Vision Canada, a global front-runner in the charitable and international development sector focused on poverty alleviation for children, families, and communities. She managed various areas of the business including communications and public relations, integrated marketing strategy, and creative and design. In her most recent role as Corporate Strategy Director, she helped lead the organization through a new strategic framework and formation of the organization’s annual operating plan.
Prior to this, she worked in the brand and creative department at Corus Entertainment, producing on-air promotions and print and digital content for various television networks including W and YTV.
Julia is passionate about equitable access to education programs and social services for children and families, having spent time mentoring, tutoring, and providing meals with various community organizations over the last few decades. As an advisory board member of Arts Etobicoke, she supports this established arts council as it provides community members access to arts programming and advocates on behalf of city artists.
Julia holds Carleton University’s Bachelor of Journalism and is a graduate of McMaster University’s Master of Communication-MBA hybrid program, where she continues to support as a part-time teaching assistant. She is change management certified and an accredited public relations professional with the Canadian Public Relations Society.