Our Team

ABOUT

Our all-star roster is experienced at the highest levels of government and business.

President

Andrew Kimber

Andrew has spent the last decade working in politics and government relations. Andrew served as Executive Director of Issues Management and Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Premier of Ontario and previously served as Deputy Director of Issues Management for Ontario’s Leader of the Official Opposition. He served on the 2011, 2014, and 2018 Ontario PC election campaigns, most recently serving as the 2018 War Room Director.

Senior Vice President

Simon Jefferies

Simon has spent years navigating the political landscape, crafting messages for Conservative politicians at Queen’s Park and on Parliament Hill. Most recently, he served as Director of Media Relations for Premier Doug Ford, spokesperson for the 2019 Conservative national election campaign, acting Director of Communications in the Office of Canada’s Leader of the Official Opposition, and in Doug Ford’s 2018 and 2022 campaign war rooms.

Senior Associate

Davin Shinedling

Davin Shinedling is a detail-oriented political analyst/communications professional with extensive experience working for public and private sector organizations. Before joining JB+A he played a pivotal role working with the Ontario Ministry of Health helping to navigate and communicate a public response to COVID-19. Through his past experiences in working with elected government officials and non-government actors, he has acquired crucial skills that have allowed him to successfully manage complex issues.

Associate

Michaela Johnson

Michaela has gained experience in a range of different roles within the federal public sector and the private sector. Her political experience began in 2017, serving as a Page in the House of Commons. Observing policymaking, and listening to differing perspectives on a variety of issues has provided her with the ability to see all sides of an argument. In 2019, Michaela worked for a federal Member of Parliament. She also assisted with the Member’s 2019 and 2021 re-election campaigns. Michaela completed a dual honours degree in Economics and Public Policy at the University of Ottawa in 2021.

Associate

Matt Olsen

Matt is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a degree in Political Science and Business. At UWaterloo, he was the Vice President Finance on the St. Jerome’s University College Students’ Union. Alongside his university experience, Matt worked in co-op positions at the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada. These included roles at the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the Department of National Defence, and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

Associate

Jonathan Lesarge

Jonathan brings years of experience in public affairs, including roles in provincial and federal policy. As the Government and Public Relations Advisor at the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Jonathan assisted with initiatives of national significance, including an Indigenous delegation to Rome and the papal visit to Canada. Jonathan spent several years with multiple Members of Provincial Parliament, finishing his time in the Office of Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. He has worked on numerous campaigns for Ontario PC and federal Conservative candidates. He also holds two Master’s degrees in Political Science and Public Policy.

Sally Zhou is a fourth year student majoring in Biotechnology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. She is originally from Calgary and currently lives in Vancouver. In the 2021 federal election, she worked full-time as a volunteer coordinator in a campaign in Coquitlam. Sally was an intern on Parliament Hill in the summer of 2021. In September, Sally worked in a research lab at the Vancouver General Hospital. Currently, she is continuing her studies in UBC and will be graduating in 2023.

Michaela has experience working in a range of different roles within the federal public sector and the private sector. In 2017, Michaela served as a Page in the House of Commons. Observing policymaking firsthand, and listening to differing perspectives on a variety of issues has provided her with the ability to see all sides of an argument. In 2019, Michaela worked for a federal Member of Parliament. Along with working in the Parliamentary office, she assisted with the Member’s 2019 and 2021 re-election campaigns. Prior to joining JB+A, Michaela worked in the private wealth management sector. Michaela completed a dual honours degree in Economics and Public Policy at the University of Ottawa in 2021.

Jonathan brings years of public affairs experience to Forecheck Strategies, having served in public and private sector roles in the provincial and federal policy spheres. Before joining our team, Jonathan was the Government and Public Relations Advisor at the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. In this role, he assisted with government engagement and media relations for initiatives of national significance, including a recent Indigenous delegation to Rome and the papal visit to Canada. Previously, he worked over several years for multiple Members of Provincial Parliament. Jonathan has worked on numerous political campaigns for Ontario PC and Conservative Party of Canada candidates throughout his career. He also holds two Master’s degrees in Political Science and Public Policy.