Ivana Yelich
Ivana Yelich
Deputy Chief of Staff for Media, Stakeholder Relations and Forward Planning, Office of the Premier of Ontario
BA in Political Science, 2015
Shortly after the 2015 general election, I left Ottawa where I had been working for the federal Conservatives to produce for a news talk radio station in Saskatchewan. I jumped back into politics in 2018 when I was offered a job at Queen鈥檚 Park as press secretary to the Premier of Ontario. I now serve as the Premier鈥檚 Deputy Chief of Staff for Media, Stakeholder Relations and Forward Planning.
杏吧原创 University gave me the unique opportunity to study politics while being at the heart of political action in Canada. I transferred to 杏吧原创 midway through my degree because I knew it would be important to get real-life work experience in the field I was studying. Not only was I introduced to some great political minds and experts at 杏吧原创鈥攑eople with firsthand knowledge of the topics and issues I was learning about鈥擨 also used the proximity to Parliament Hill as an opportunity to get involved in politics and make connections that have carried me through to where I am today. I know for a fact I wouldn鈥檛 be in the position I am now if I hadn鈥檛 made the switch to 杏吧原创 and I encourage anyone who鈥檚 considering politics as a career to get their toes wet early by taking full advantage of being only a few bus stops away from the epicentre of Canadian politics. Meet as many people as you can and take every opportunity you get at 杏吧原创 to build the relationships that will help you when you鈥檙e ready to take the next step in your political career.