Joe MacDonald

Joe MacDonald is Professor and Program Coordinator in the Seneca College Government Relations Management program, the only program of its kind in North America.

With more than 40 years in politics and public affairs, Joe has served as Special Assistant to two provincial cabinet ministers, Senior Partner with FPR Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, President of The MacDonald Group, Senior Counsel, Public and Corporate Affairs for The Innovative Research Group Inc., Partnerships & Public Affairs Manager of the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area and as an Associate with GCI Canada Inc. As an independent consultant he provided client support in advocacy training, lobbying, and program development.

An experienced political strategist, organizer and campaign manager, Joe managed election campaigns in eight provinces, at all levels of government, and served in senior positions in federal and provincial leadership campaigns including federal leadership campaign director in 2002-03. Joe has appeared as spokesperson on media across the country and locally on Canada AM, CBC Toronto’s Metro Morning, Global News, City TV and CP24.

He is a four-term President, Past President and Life Member of the Public Affairs Association of Canada (PAAC), and was the longest serving member of the PAAC Board.

A graduate of the University of Waterloo (Hons. BA, MA), and a doctoral candidate at York University (ABD), Joe taught courses at Seneca College, Ryerson University in Toronto (Advocacy & Government Relations) and the Labour College of Canada in Ottawa (Canadian Politics).