A national health care practice

Katie Heelis is a seasoned health care expert and strategist with experience shaping health care policy, strategy and communications across Canada.   

Katie has led the development and growth of EnterpriseHealth, establishing it as a leading health care practice regularly called upon to address some of the nation’s most significant health challenges. As the head of EnterpriseHealth, she has driven impactful campaigns for some of Canada’s largest health care organizations.  

Before joining Enterprise Katie was a strategic advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Health and has played campaign roles at the municipal, provincial and federal level. Katie has been recognized twice by the Hill Times as being one of Canada’s Top 100 Lobbyists.

Inside Experience

• Former Issues Manager and Policy Lead for Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.  
• Guided numerous health care organizations through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Served as Interim CEO of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario.
• Graduate of the Balsillie School of International Affairs with a Master’s in International Public Policy focused on Global Public Health.  
• Founder of the Women in Media Fellowship, a pro-bono media training program that has provided free media training to over 100 women in health care across the country. 
• Chair of Margaret’s Community Supports and Social Services in Toronto.  

Carly Ellis is an insightful strategic advisor with extensive experience in the health sector. At EnterpriseHealth, Carly thoughtfully navigates complex health care challenges, considering all angles, driving projects forward, and consistently delivering results for clients.

Carly leads EnterpriseHealth’s strategic planning projects, engaging meaningfully with communities, partners, and patients. She has guided major partnerships and coalitions in their advocacy with governments across the country, achieving significant progress and success. 

Prior to joining EnterpriseHealth, Carly supported government relations, communications, governance and strategic projects at a regional health authority and the largest community-based hospital in Canada.

Inside Experience

• Over seven years of experience working in health care, primarily in acute care, home care, and mental health and addictions.  
• Supported board governance and executive project management for the largest hospital redevelopment project in Ontario and lead operational efforts and staff redeployment initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic at Trillium Health Partners. 
• Played an integral role in developing the first successful Ontario Health Team application. 
• Holds a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University’s School of Public Policy and an Honours degree in Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario 
• 2020 CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow. 
• Speaker coach with TEDxToronto.

A former award-winning health care journalist with two decades of experience at daily newspapers, Peter is a skilled communicator with extensive knowledge about Canada’s health care system.  

As lead writer for EnterpriseHealth, Peter works with health care organizations to develop compelling communications materials and strategies designed to resonate with key audiences and motivate them to take action. Our clients count on Peter’s support and counsel to execute winning education and engagement strategies, advocacy campaigns, issues management plans, government relations campaigns and public relations activities. 

Inside Experience

• Award-winning former health care reporter at daily newspapers. 
• Frequent ghostwriter for health care CEOs and leaders whose thought-leadership columns appear in top-tier media news outlets across Canada. 
• Deep understanding of Canada’s evolving media landscape and what drives media coverage. 

Alex is a communications expert with a strong grasp of Ontario’s health care system and the provincial political landscape.  She provides strategic advice to help clients navigate complex issues and work effectively with government.  

Alex has crafted targeted strategies for health care organizations across the country that have successfully shaped public opinion and influenced government policy. Her adept handling of crisis communications during the COVID-19 pandemic has prepared her to provide expert advice to clients in difficult situations, while delivering clear, concise and effective messages. 

Inside Experience

• Press Secretary to Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, handling the most pressing crisis files in government.  
• Managed media relations across all 124 local campaigns in the PC War Room for Premier Doug Ford’s successful re-election campaign in 2022. 
• Serves on the Board of Directors of Conceivable Dreams, a grassroots advocacy organization supporting current and future families through their fertility journeys, where she helps lead the organization’s government relations efforts. 

Kevin Den Heijer is a seasoned strategist known for his adept navigation of Canadian health policy and the inner workings of government. With a wealth of experience serving at both federal and provincial levels, Kevin brings a pragmatic approach to addressing complex challenges. 

His tenure as a policy advisor to Canada’s Minister of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored his ability to tackle high-pressure issues such as the COVID-19 vaccine strategy and Canada’s opioid crisis. Prior to his role in Ottawa, Kevin served as issues and operations advisor to several cabinet ministers in the provincial government in Ontario.

Inside Experience

• Policy advisor to Canada’s Minister of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing vaccine strategy, drug policy, and the opioid crisis. 
• Issues and communications advisor to provincial cabinet ministers in Ontario. 
• Lead role in digital partnerships during the Liberal Party of Canada’s 2021 election campaign. 
• Graduate of the University of Ottawa in political science and communications. 

Safia is a health sector leader with deep health industry knowledge in both the Ontario and BC health care system.  

With a strong grasp of health care stakeholders, Safia skillfully navigates these dynamics with clients. Her expertise lies in shaping the conversation based on the audience, bridging the gap between diverse parties, facilitating effective communication, and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes. Safia is dedicated to helping clients navigate challenges and secure the results they desire. 

At EnterpriseHealth, Safia supports strategic planning projects from end-to-end, with a focus on ensuring each community member, partner and patient, sees themselves in the strategy. She facilitates connections for clients within Ontario and BC and leads various projects from inception to implementation.   

Inside Experience

• Prior experience in management consulting at a boutique health care firm based in Vancouver, BC. 
• Played an integral role in supporting a large academic hospital in developing its foundational five-year strategy.
• Managed the development and implementation of a provincial strategic approach to enable providers across the province to access the information they need through digital health tools.
• Over five years of experience working directly in the public sector, primarily in digital health and cancer care. 

Tea Cirovic is a skilled and versatile analyst with a strong background in project management, stakeholder engagement, research, and change management. At EnterpriseHealth, she excels in coordinating complex projects and driving impactful outcomes for clients. Leveraging her expertise in government relations, communications, and policy development, Tea guides clients through the intricacies of Canada’s health care system and helps them navigate their biggest political and policy issues. Her diverse experiences and positive mindset make her an invaluable asset in fast-paced environments. 

Inside Experience

• Project Analyst at the Public Health Agency of Canada, managing large-scale projects, conducting comprehensive research, and supporting significant change management activities to modernize public health processes and protocols within the Agency. 
• International experience serving as a Policy Analyst for the Victim’s Participation Unit at The Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague, Netherlands, focusing on human rights advocacy and developing evidence-based policy solutions.
• Holds a bilingual Master of Public and International Affairs degree from York University’s Glendon School of Public and International Affairs. 

Nikita is a health expert with a strong background in public health, policy, research, and health communications across diverse health systems. At EnterpriseHealth, Nikita supports strategic planning projects from start to finish, with a focus on integrating patient, family, caregiver, and community input into comprehensive strategies. She collaborates closely with clients to ensure that their plans reflect the needs of all stakeholders and drives successful implementation. Nikita is dedicated to helping clients achieve impactful outcomes and shaping solutions that drive meaningful change. 

Inside Experience

• Supported the implementation of Ontario Health Teams, focusing on strategic planning and stakeholder engagement, at the Ministry of Health.
• Led research on integrated health systems and patient engagement at the Institute for Better Health, contributing to system improvements. 
• Directed social media and communications efforts as Engagement Editor at Healthy Debate, leading campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic to engage the public in health discussions. 
• Holds a Master of Public Health from Western University and completed a practicum placement at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), supporting public health interventions on alcohol policy across the Pan American regions.

Rayna Naik is passionate about supporting health care organizations to develop impactful policies and products. Her unique expertise in regulatory affairs enables her to translate complex health concepts into compelling messages. Her extensive industry experience spans pharmaceuticals, marketing, and health-tech innovation. This, combined with her direct patient engagement, makes her a valuable asset to clients. Rayna is committed to leveraging her diverse background to drive meaningful change in the health care sector. 

Inside Experience

• Expertly managed drug safety reporting for large global pharmaceutical companies.
• Played a pivotal role in strategy and policy development for some of Ontario’s largest hospitals and associations in the mental health space. 
• Developed educational programs to support health care providers treating individuals with traumatic brain injuries.
• Led project management for some of the world’s largest health care brands.  
• Holds an honours bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a graduate certificate in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs.

Sydney Walsh is a highly organized professional with a background in political science and a strong interest in health care. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dalhousie University, where she developed a deep understanding of policy and governance. Sydney has experience in research, communication, and project coordination, which she applies to support initiatives that drive meaningful change in health care. Her passion for improving systems and her ability to manage complex projects make her a valuable contributor to advancing impactful solutions in the sector.

Inside Experience

• Led the coordination of social media strategies, managed the end-to-end content creation process, and conducted in-depth research to craft and publish insightful articles, driving successful promotional campaigns for Canadian literature.
• Volunteered in multiple federal election campaigns, gaining hands-on experience and developing a strong understanding of the electoral process and public engagement strategies.
• Holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from Dalhousie University.

Combining his expertise in the design and healthcare industries, Kyle Schruder leads design at Creative Currency and EnterpriseHealth. The foundation of his design career is built upon creating publications and reports for groups like the University of Toronto Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Science, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), as well as newsstand publications like Opera Canada.

He then transitioned into healthcare consulting, leveraging his design expertise on projects that increased empathy for patients with rare diseases through immersive experiences, aligned pharmaceutical organizations around the future their treatments could create, and branding initiatives that captured attention and inspire.