Your new competitive advantage.

We help brands harness the power of people, data and strategy to solve problems, drive revenues and win fans.

What we do.

Rise Up Strategies delivers senior-level expertise at the intersection of technology, governance, and public policy. We provide tailored support to leaders and organizations seeking to manage complexity, accelerate innovation, and build lasting influence. Our approach is collaborative, strategic, and grounded in real-world experience across government and technology sectors.

“I had the pleasure of working with Adam for several years in Ottawa and found him to be a voice of reason and a champion of innovation. Adam is not afraid of taking chances while always supporting his colleagues.”

Gosia Radaczynska
Senior Vice-President, AlayaCare

“I asked Adam to be a keynote speaker at the Performance and Planning Exchange Symposium where he delivered an exceptionally well-received presentation on his work with the Shepherds of Good Hope. It couldn’t have gone better.”

Katie Brown
Chief of Staff at Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada

“I worked with Adam on the renewal of a complex $30M account. The client wasn’t happy with the way things were going and it was clear that they were exploring alternatives. Adam was able to step in and reset the discussion, eventually resulting in the renewal of the account with several new concessions made by the client.”

Rob McCulloch
Associate Vice-President, University of Ottawa (retired)

“During my time as President of the Liberal Party of Canada, Adam had a very difficult job but he handled it with charm and professionalism. Despite the challenges faced by the Party, he built strong and lasting relationships with many senior officials across the country and ensured the Party had the necessary funds to fight elections.”

Doug Ferguson
Lawyer and Professor

“During the Federal election, while I was volunteering with the LPC, Adam identified a gap in the Party’s messaging and communications whereby thousands of Canadians were not having their policy questions answered. Although outside Adam’s scope of work, he quickly assembled and trained a team of volunteers to work through the backlog and make sure every inquiry and question was answered.”

Scott Willis
Climate Policy Specialist

Adam is one of the sharpest strategic thinkers I’ve worked with. His ability to understand complex issues and translate them into clear, compelling communications is exceptional. Whether it’s navigating high-stakes stakeholder environments or building long-term public engagement strategies, Adam brings discipline, creativity, and integrity to everything he does. His work ethic is unmatched, and his counsel has been invaluable to me.

Frank Baylis
Executive Chairman, Baylis Medical Technologies

“In the 25 years I’ve known and worked with Adam, I’ve seen him successfully build high-performing teams in the technology, political, non-profit, and financial services sectors. He’s a true high-performing professional.”

Jay Litkey
SVP Cloud Management, Flexera

“During my time working with Adam at United Way, I saw him transform an underperforming, outdated Marketing Department into an innovative and high-performing digital team. It was an amazing transformation that helped United Way re-establish itself in the modern digital philanthropic landscape.”

Brendan Mullen
Marketing Executive, Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada

“Adam is a true professional with an exceptional work ethic combined with intelligence, creativity and desire to make a real difference. A significant asset always to our team, it was a pleasure to work with him.”

Rocco Rossi
Former President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

“I’ve seen Adam diplomatically express a contrary opinion to the consensus in a room of professionals and eloquently convince people that his perspective is the right one. It takes courage to be different than the crowd, but the value it brings is immeasurable.”

John Peters
Partner in the Advocacy Department, Gowlings WLG

“Adam understands how to shape and frame messages for greatest impact. He understands narratives and the power of appealing to both the heart and the head. I would trust him with any communications challenge.”

Andrée Dion
Communications Manager, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
01

Technology Project Management & AI Product Development

Bridging Vision and Execution in the Digital Age

  • Enterprise-Level Planning: Architecting scalable, forward-looking technology strategies that support long-term growth.
  • Project Oversight: Managing complex tech initiatives from strategy to execution—on time, on budget, and with clarity.
  • AI Integration: Guiding product development for AI tools that are both innovative and compliant, with real market applications.
  • Data-Driven Optimisation: Using analytics to improve performance, retention, and userexperience.
  • Measurement and Governance: Implementing frameworks to track outcomes and ensure accountability throughout your digital transformation.
02

Data and Technology Governance

Building Responsible Systems That Inspire Trust

  • Governance Frameworks: Designing policies and oversight models for data and emerging technologies.
  • AI Ethics and Risk Management: Aligning innovation with regulatory, ethical, and societal expectations.
  • Compliance and Privacy Strategy: Helping organizations stay ahead of evolving laws and standards.
  • Organizational Readiness: Preparing teams to adapt to and manage digital change through training and culture-building.
  • Strategic Insight: Translating technical complexity into clear guidance for boards, executives, and public stakeholders.
03

Government Relations & Strategic Communications

Where Policy, Narrative, and Public Engagement Intersect

  • Strategic Advocacy: Developing campaigns that drive public support and influence policy direction.
  • Research and Public Engagement: Mapping public sentiment and leveraging it to shape discourse and decisions.
  • Narrative Development: Crafting persuasive messages that cut through noise and inspire action.
  • Reputation and Issues Management: Protecting your brand and building credibility in high-stakes environments.
  • Campaign Execution: Designing and delivering high-impact digital strategies that mobilize communities and capture attention.

“During my time working with Adam at United Way, I saw him transform an underperforming, outdated Marketing Department into an innovative and high-performing digital team. It was an amazing transformation that helped United Way re-establish itself in the modern digital philanthropic landscape.”

Brendan Mullen
Marketing Executive, Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada

“I worked with Adam on the renewal of a complex $30M account. The client wasn’t happy with the way things were going and it was clear that they were exploring alternatives. Adam was able to step in and reset the discussion, eventually resulting in the renewal of the account with several new concessions made by the client.”

Rob McCulloch
Associate Vice-President, University of Ottawa (retired)

“In the 25 years I’ve known and worked with Adam, I’ve seen him successfully build high-performing teams in the technology, political, non-profit, and financial services sectors. He’s a true high-performing professional.”

Jay Litkey
SVP Cloud Management, Flexera

“I asked Adam to be a keynote speaker at the Performance and Planning Exchange Symposium where he delivered an exceptionally well-received presentation on his work with the Shepherds of Good Hope. It couldn’t have gone better.”

Katie Brown
Chief of Staff at Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada

“During my time as President of the Liberal Party of Canada, Adam had a very difficult job but he handled it with charm and professionalism. Despite the challenges faced by the Party, he built strong and lasting relationships with many senior officials across the country and ensured the Party had the necessary funds to fight elections.”

Doug Ferguson
Lawyer and Professor

“Adam is a true professional with an exceptional work ethic combined with intelligence, creativity and desire to make a real difference. A significant asset always to our team, it was a pleasure to work with him.”

Rocco Rossi
Former President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

“I had the pleasure of working with Adam for several years in Ottawa and found him to be a voice of reason and a champion of innovation. Adam is not afraid of taking chances while always supporting his colleagues.”

Gosia Radaczynska
Senior Vice-President, AlayaCare

“Adam understands how to shape and frame messages for greatest impact. He understands narratives and the power of appealing to both the heart and the head. I would trust him with any communications challenge.”

Andrée Dion
Communications Manager, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

“I’ve seen Adam diplomatically express a contrary opinion to the consensus in a room of professionals and eloquently convince people that his perspective is the right one. It takes courage to be different than the crowd, but the value it brings is immeasurable.”

John Peters
Partner in the Advocacy Department, Gowlings WLG

“During the Federal election, while I was volunteering with the LPC, Adam identified a gap in the Party’s messaging and communications whereby thousands of Canadians were not having their policy questions answered. Although outside Adam’s scope of work, he quickly assembled and trained a team of volunteers to work through the backlog and make sure every inquiry and question was answered.”

Scott Willis
Climate Policy Specialist

Adam is one of the sharpest strategic thinkers I’ve worked with. His ability to understand complex issues and translate them into clear, compelling communications is exceptional. Whether it’s navigating high-stakes stakeholder environments or building long-term public engagement strategies, Adam brings discipline, creativity, and integrity to everything he does. His work ethic is unmatched, and his counsel has been invaluable to me.

Frank Baylis
Executive Chairman, Baylis Medical Technologies

Latest Blog Posts

March 20, 2025

Six months ago, I set out on a journey that would take me deep into the heart of a political movement, a leadership contest, and a vision for Canada’s future. Along the way, I have found myself in rooms with some of the most accomplished,

January 21, 2025

President Donald Trump’s inaugural address on January 20, 2025, offered a clear roadmap of his administration’s priorities, and Ontario should be alarmed. Amid his pledges to revitalise American manufacturing, impose tariffs on foreign goods, and withdraw support for electric vehicle (EV) mandates, Trump outlined policies

January 8, 2025

Donald Trump’s recent comments about Canada becoming the 51st state have sparked heated debate on both sides of the border. While many see these remarks as inflammatory or a political tactic, they also invite us to consider the broader historical, cultural, and economic implications of