Julia is the Executive Director of the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF), a national organization established to help address workforce development challenges in the commercial and public marine sector. 

Julia joined the CMCF in August 2022 with more than 20 years’ experience in communications and journalism in Canada, the U.S. and the UK, including most recently as the Communications Director with the Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC). 

During her 12 years at the CMC, she developed a binational awareness program that significantly elevated the profile of Great Lakes-St. Lawrence shipping and its priorities amongst its public, government, and  political stakeholders. For the past two years, Julia had also acted as an advisor to the CMCF, working closely with the team and providing strategic direction for the foundation’s communications activities. 

Prior to joining the marine sector, Julia developed national publicity strategies for the UK’s largest private broadcaster and held various journalist roles at national newspapers in Scotland, covering high-profile business stories across the country, in Europe and Asia. She has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in Ottawa.