Coralie D’Souza

An entrepreneurial thinker, Coralie’s creativity, and ‘can do’ attitude are infectious. As Director of Operations + Employee Engagement, she focuses on two key areas, people and culture, overseeing the institute’s strategic people management initiatives to foster a community of learning, engagement, and inclusion.

Coralie has nearly a decade of experience providing high-profile communications and issues management advice in various roles as a senior communications strategist, speechwriter, and advisor, to some of Canada’s political leaders, thought-leaders and influencers.

She is committed to public service and community building. Coralie first joined BII+E as its Director of Strategic Communications, Events + Community Relations, leading the development of its accessible and inclusive brand and art-based methods approach to communications.

Before joining BII+E, Coralie was a Senior Communications Strategist within the Ontario government, where she worked to advance women’s economic security, welcomed newcomers, and engaged Ontarians in responsible citizenship and to take voluntary action. Coralie has spent over 15 years volunteering in her community on a range of initiatives, with a focus on diversity and the advancement of women. As of late, she shares her experience and insight as an Advisor on the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) Board to support creators of comic works in their broad and diverse voices, and promote the medium of comics as a legitimate medium of literary and artistic worth.

An entrepreneur, Coralie is continuously dabbling in new projects. In 2006, she founded her first venture, Bespoke Hair & Makeup Artistry, a boutique Toronto-based bridal makeup company. In 2011, she launched DS Consulting, a communications and public relations strategy firm assisting small businesses, not-for-profits, and social enterprises to better engage their stakeholders and the public.

Coralie graduated from the University of Toronto where she served on the University’s Governing Council. She is also a former Operational Vice-President for the Ontario Liberal Party, an Advisory Member of the G(irls)20 Summit Board and Co-Chair of the Toronto Public Library Foundation’s New Collection.