Emma Wakelin (she/her) is a Senior Fellow at The Sonor Foundation, where she draws on more than two decades of experience in government, political strategy, and community advocacy to support the Foundation’s work, and leads The Sonor Foundation’s strategic hub and narrative change work with trans, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse communities.

Emma is a Toronto-based consultant with more than 20 years of experience at both the provincial and federal levels of government, having served as a senior advisor and chief of staff to Members of Parliament, Members of Provincial Parliament, and cabinet ministers across a wide range of ministries. One of the most sought-after campaign strategists in the country, she is also recognized as a leading voice in Ontario’s 2SLGBTQ and trans communities.

Emma is currently Principal Consultant at Aurora Global Strategies, a role she has held since 2022. She previously served as Director of Training and Candidate Liaison for the Ontario Liberal Party, and prior to that as an independent consultant. Her government career includes serving as Chief of Staff to Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament; Chief of Staff to Ann Hoggarth, MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community Services; and Chief of Staff to Ahmed Hussen, Member of Parliament. At the provincial level, she served as Senior Advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Sport, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Government Services & Consumer Services, as well as Chief of Staff to Joe Dickson, Member of Provincial Parliament, and Director of Political Organization for the Ontario Liberal Party.

Emma has led or held senior leadership roles in more than 25 campaigns at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Her track record demonstrates exceptional organizational skill, an ability to build consensus and trust in competitive environments, and a proven talent for assembling and motivating winning teams.

Beyond politics, Emma is a gifted performer and producer in Canada’s entertainment industry, and appeared as a cast member on the 2012 YTV series Extreme Babysitting. A natural storyteller, she is known for crafting compelling, strategic narratives that resonate with audiences and stakeholders alike.

Deeply committed to community building and advocacy, Emma has worked alongside advocacy organizations, policymakers, and grassroots leaders to advance equity, inclusion, and human rights for trans, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people in Canada. She is a frequent media commentator on political and 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, has been a keynote speaker at Pride events across Ontario, and served as the English-language co-host of the Government of Canada’s Pride flag raising on Parliament Hill in 2023. She also serves on numerous non-profit boards, advising organizations on governance, capacity building, and strategic growth.

Emma is known for her strategic storytelling, consensus-building, and relationship-based leadership across government, entertainment, and advocacy. She is driven by a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and community empowerment — particularly for Trans, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse communities — and brings this same dedication to strengthening governance and capacity across the non-profit sector.