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Laura Kurkimaki

Vice President, McMillan Vantage and Former Deputy National Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party of Canada

Laura brings substantial experience in public affairs, campaigns, and advocacy. She supports clients in a wide range of industries including financial services, transportation, labour, healthcare, energy, and clean technology.

Prior to joining McMillan Vantage, Laura served in a senior role at another Ottawa-based public affairs firm. She has held several roles with federal and provincial Conservative parties, including at Conservative Party headquarters and as an Issues Manager in the Prime Minister’s Office. Most recently she was Principal Secretary to former Conservative Party Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition, Hon. Erin O’Toole, and served as Deputy National Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2021 federal election.

In her spare time, Laura serves on Laurentian University’s board of governors. From 2018-2022, she served as an elected member of the Ontario PC Party Executive as 8th Vice President. In 2017, she was named one of PR in Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.

Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Political Management from Carleton University.

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Thursday Jan 15th, 2026

Lessons from the 2025 Federal Election

Senior campaign strategists break down what the 2025 federal election revealed about modern campaigning. This panel examines what worked, what didn’t, and the strategic lessons campaign professionals can take into the next electoral cycle.

11:05 AM - 12:05 PM

Thursday Jan 15th, 2026

(Breakout Session by Equal Voice) Ask Her (or Them) to Run: How One Conversation Can Change Canadian Politics

Political careers don’t only start with ambition. They start with being asked. This interactive Equal Voice session will be a mix of sharing how:
  • Women want to be invited into political life. There isn’t one approach or linear career approach. We will explore key factors like different life stages, cultural and communities’ backgrounds, and lived experiences.
  • Why encouragement from personal connections matters, and
  • How campaigns and parties can find and engage these everyday leaders.
After a short presentation of the research, candid feedback and trend analysis, three political party insiders will explore why “the ask” still matters, pull back the curtain on how parties build their candidate pipelines and what we can all do to help recruit more women, in all their diversity, to consider running for public office.