Bonnie Brownlee has a lifelong commitment to leadership, mentorship, and public service.
The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government is pleased to welcome Bonnie Brownlee to the Institute’s External Advisory Board, where she will play a key role in supporting the Institute’s mandate of engaging Canadians in important and timely discussions about key policy issues.
"Ms. Brownlee brings extensive expertise to the Board, and her membership will be invaluable to the Mulroney Institute," says Institute Director Lynda Harling Stalker.
The External Advisory Board is chaired by Mark Mulroney, Global Vice Chair, Office of the CEO, for CIBC. The executive director of the Advisory Board is Regan P. Watts, the founder of Fratton Park Inc., an advisory firm providing services in public affairs, corporate social responsibility, innovation, and market development.
“Ms. Brownlee’s significant leadership and service experience makes her an excellent fit for the Board, and I know she will bring incalculable benefits to the Board, and the Institute,” says Mulroney.
“We look forward to working with Ms. Brownlee in our shared pursuit of furthering the mandate of the Institute,” says Watts.
The External Advisory Board supports the work of the Institute through activities such as fundraising and promotion.
About Bonnie Brownlee
Bonnie Brownlee’s career bridges politics, broadcasting, and fashion — with a lifelong commitment to leadership, mentorship, and public service. She began her professional journey in the office of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney as Executive Assistant to Mila Mulroney, where she gained early insight into the workings of government and the power of effective communication. From there, she moved to New York to work with Bloomingdale’s as International Media Director before returning to Canada to take on senior leadership roles at Astral Television Networks, Bell Globe Media, and CBC/Radio-Canada, shaping national conversations in media and culture.
Throughout her career she has earned multiple global and national creative and marketing awards across every major genre of television, from news and sports, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, to entertainment and lifestyle.
A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Canadian Women in Communications and Technology Mentorship Award, Bonnie Brownlee has been widely recognized for her contributions to communications and her dedication to mentoring women in Canada and abroad. She has volunteered with the National Democratic Institute, supporting women’s leadership and civic participation in emerging democracies, such as Kosovo, Albania, and Yemen.
She has served on a number of advisory and non-profit boards such as The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, Canadian Women in Film and Television, Canada’s Walk of Fame, the Ottawa Heart Institute Fundraising Board, and Wellspring Cancer Center’s Media Committee, all focused on education, governance, and the arts. She continues to champion initiatives that empower women and promote ethical leadership.
Bonnie Brownlee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Carleton University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations, Defence & Security from the National Defence College of Canada.
