Laura Brandes is the Communications Director at the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, which includes the POLIS Water Sustainability Project, the POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project, and the Biocultural Ethics Initiative. In this role, she clearly and creatively communicates new research and innovative ideas to help drive change towards a sustainable and secure future. Laura strives to listen and build relationships with everyone she works with. This includes her team at POLIS, as well as individuals from NGOs and practitioner organizations, media, government (Indigenous, local, provincial, and federal), academia, and funding organizations.
At POLIS, Laura manages internal and external communications, develops and implements strategic plans, provides in-house professional editing, leads media relations, and oversees digital communications. She has a nuanced understanding of research impact and how to craft evidence-based impact narratives. She also serves as an advisor to various NGOs and academic organizations, where she offers strategic communications support.
Mentorship is a priority at POLIS and, over the years, Laura has supervised dozens of students and young professionals to help train the next generation of sustainability leaders. For over a decade, Laura produced and hosted the respected Creating a Blue Dialogue webinar series, bringing together thousands of expert water practitioners, thinkers, and emerging leaders to engage with innovative ideas on water policy and governance.
Laura completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph, where she studied wildlife biology and music. She is an alumna of the Banff Science Communications Program and has professional training from the International Environmental Communication Association, Research Impact Canada, and Editors Canada.
