Abby Tait
Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Government Relations, United Way Greater Toronto
| Degrees: | MPM 2021 |
Abby is currently the Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Government Relations for United Way Greater Toronto. As Senior Manager, Abby coordinates and executes UWGT’s advocacy strategies across federal, provincial and municipal governments, and engages closely with sector partners and stakeholders to drive public policy change.
Previously, Abby engaged in a diverse range of consulting, political, non-profit and government work. Abby spent 5 years in federal government relations consulting focusing on advocacy in the non-profit, arts, technology, infrastructure and international development sectors. She spent time working for the Hon. Karina Gould, then Minister of International Development, where she supported communications and stakeholder engagement. She has also held several policy and communications positions in Canada’s federal public service, including at Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Department of National Defence. She first began her government relations career as an in-house public affairs coordinator with the University of Waterloo.
In addition to a Master’s in Political Management, Abby holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Political Science with a double minor in Communications and International Studies from the University of Waterloo. Abby was named a Young Director with Fora: Network for Change’s Girls on Boards program for the 2022-2023 Cohort.
The Riddell Program was incredibly valuable in its practicality and opportunity for cross-partisan discussion. It provides both hands-on knowledge and access to seasoned experts, while targeting the most critical skills and tools for a political professional.
Although I completed the program entirely online due to COVID-19, the dedicated professors ensured that thoughtful discussions and professionally relevant exercises remained at the core of the program.
The marker of a truly valuable program is one that sets up its students for success and provides them with the space and opportunity to develop and harness their skills multiple different settings. By providing an in-depth look at an expansive scope of political management topics, the Riddell Program did exactly that.
If you’re interested in shaping Canadian politics in any way, there’s something for you in this program.
Last Revision: June 2025