Canada’s Trusted
Public Affairs Advisors

Wellington Advocacy is a national, full-service public affairs firm shaping government policy and public opinion for business leaders and global brands.

What we do

We build partnerships that drive impact.

We deliver government relations and public affairs services that shape government policy and public opinion.

Learn about our services

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Global brands trust Wellington to drive impact.

Our people

Advisors with unrivaled expertise.

Our experience serving Prime Ministers, Provincial Premiers, Cabinet Ministers, and corporate executives delivers industry-leading insights for partners.

Meet our team

Nick Koolsbergen

CEO and Co-Founder
As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wellington Advocacy, Nick draws on his 15 years of political experience across Canada to advise the senior leadership of some of Canada’s largest companies and associations. Prior to Wellington, Nick directed issues management for the Prime Minister of Canada, served as Chief of Staff to the former Premiers of British Columbia and Alberta, and as a political party Campaign Director.
Jeremy Hunt

Co-Founder and Director
Jeremy Hunt served as a Director to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister. In this capacity, he oversaw the Prime Minister’s Executive Office, Tour and Business Outreach. He received an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Carleton University and a MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University.
Ray Novak

Co-Founder and Director
Ray served nearly a decade in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, including as Chief of Staff and Principal Secretary to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister. In these capacities he oversaw daily operations of the Prime Minister’s Office and led strategic coordination in support of the government’s policy and communications agenda. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors Political Science) from Western University.
Andrea van Vugt

Chief Operating Officer
Andrea has more than 20 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, advising some of North America’s largest businesses on bilateral and trilateral trade issues. Andrea was the Foreign Affairs and Trade Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada where she played an instrumental role in the conclusion of the Canada-Europe trade negotiations. Andrea also served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of International Trade where she oversaw the conclusion of trade talks with Ukraine, Israel, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Andrea will navigate complicated transborder activities for your organization, including trade and tariff rules.
Hon. Wayne Wouters, P.C., O.C.

21st Clerk of the Privy Council and Head of the Canadian Public Service
Wayne Wouters serves as Chair of the Wellington Advocacy Strategic Advisory Board.

He joins Wellington Advocacy with nearly 40 years of distinguished public service at the highest levels, serving Prime Ministers from both governing parties. He served as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet from 2009-2014. In this capacity, Mr. Wouters served as the Chief Executive Officer of Canada’s professional public service and acted as Deputy Minister to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. From 2004-2009, Mr. Wouters served as Secretary to the Treasury Board, acting as principal administrator of government programming and expenditure management. Previously, he served as Deputy Minister in several other departments across the public service. On the advice of the Prime Minister Mr. Wouters was appointed by the Governor General as a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada in 2014 and appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2017. Mr. Wouters is a sought after advisor to executives and businesses across Canada. He is a Strategic and Policy Advisor at McCarthy Tétrault LLP and holds directorships at BlackBerry Limited, Canadian Utilities Limited, and Foran Mining Corporation.
Zita Astravas

Vice President
Zita is a seasoned public affairs professional with over 15 years serving in senior government and media relations roles at both the federal and provincial levels. She joins Wellington Advocacy after serving in a number of senior leadership roles in the Trudeau government, including as Director of Issues Management and a seasoned Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Zita has also served as Chief of Staff to the President of the King’s Privy Council and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, the Minister of Public Safety, and the Minister of National Defence, as well as in senior media relations roles for the Liberal Party of Canada, including during the 2015, 2019, and 2021 election campaigns. At the provincial level, Zita has served in numerous leadership roles under former Liberal Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne, including as Director of Media Relations.
Samuel Duncan

Vice President
Sam brings close to 15 years of senior executive political and private sector experience to Wellington Advocacy. He worked as Executive Director of Policy to Premier Doug Ford, where he was responsible for leading the government’s strategic policy development and implementation process. Sam has also served as a senior advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada and several federal Cabinet Ministers.