Shawna Bruce, Director of M.D. Bruce & Associates Ltd.

Shawna brings a wealth of experience to her work in risk and crisis communications, emergency preparedness, and media training. Her career began in the Canadian Armed Forces, where she served as an Army Public Affairs Officer for over 25 years. During her time in the military, she supported strategic planning, managed community outreach, and conducted media relations and crisis response for domestic and international events.

After retiring from the military, Shawna joined Dow Canada as National Public Affairs Leader. In this role, she supported corporate communications and the president and leadership team at Dow Canada. She also served as Dow's Public Information Officer, delivering emergency management communication to stakeholders supporting Dow’s manufacturing sites across Canada.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Shawna is committed to advancing the disaster and crisis communications field. She has been key in developing the Disaster and Crisis Communications course for the Disaster and Emergency Management diploma program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, Alberta.

Shawna's dedication to promoting industry best practices is evident through her role as facilitator for the National Advisory Panel for the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada and Life in the Heartland's Regional Advisory Committee. She is also a board member of the Northeast Regional Community Awareness and Emergency Response (NR CAER) organization.

Shawna holds a Mass Communications degree from Carleton University, a Public Relations diploma from Algonquin College, and a Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management from Royal Roads University. She is also a US Defense Information School (DINFOS) graduate.