ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø

Landed The Job

Sept 2, 2025

Alexandra Hoene has turned her passion for politics into a successful career in the Ontario Public Service. Now serving as Chief of Staff to the CEO at Supply Ontario, she shares how her time at ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Polytechnic — along with key roles in government — helped pave the way to an executive leadership role just seven years after graduation.

I chose ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø because I was having difficulty finding communications roles after completing my degree program. I was working at Air Canada at the time and most entry-level communications jobs there required two to five years of experience, which I didn’t have. I was considering a master’s program, but it was significantly more expensive and didn’t offer practical experience. The Public Relations – Corporate Communications program stood out because it was shorter, more affordable and included a work-integrated learning component, which I knew would help me gain the hands-on experience I was missing. After attending ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø’s Open House and speaking with professors, I felt confident it was the right next step for my career.

I completed a work term as part of my ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø program and it was a pivotal experience for me. I was placed at the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, working within the Deputy Minister’s Office in Issues and Communications. One of my main responsibilities was monitoring media coverage and social media commentary around the York University strike, which was a high-profile issue at the time. It was also an election year, so I had the chance to see firsthand how communications operated in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment.

That experience not only gave me valuable insight in government communications, but it also opened the door to future opportunities. I don't think I would have had the opportunity to pursue a career in public service without my work term. Working within the Ontario Public Service before stepping into a political role gave me the insight on how government worked from the inside out which was invaluable in my subsequent political roles.

Immediately after my co-op position, I joined the Premier’s Office as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. While in the role, I expressed a strong interest in becoming more directly involved in communications and that led to an opportunity to step into the role of Senior Communications Advisor. At the time, internal communications within the government were not well established, as the new administration had just come in.

I helped build and lead an internal communications function to bridge that gap by creating key messages, regional news releases and tailored communications to support members across the province. I also supported event planning and communication strategies around announcements.

When COVID-19 hit, this role became even more critical. I was responsible for keeping caucus members informed of daily government updates and managed the Premier’s social media team through the pandemic.

Between 2018 and 2024, I held several roles in the Ford government, including serving as Chief of Staff to the Associate Minister of Women and Children, where I worked on Canada’s first anti-human trafficking legislation and introduced a $300 million investment for survivor programs. I’m very proud of that work. I also served as the Chief of Staff to the Associate Minister of Housing and the Associate Minister of Small Business. During my time with the Associate Minister of Housing, we supported the creation through regulation and targeted investments in various types of housing and supported each Minister to build their presence on a hot topic issue. In my time with the Associate Minister of Small Business, we supported programs and investments that helped entrepreneurs, innovation and global investments in Ontario.

Following my time in government, I was Vice President, Government Relations at Loyalist Public Affairs, a boutique government relations and communications agency based in Toronto and Ottawa. Spending time in the private sector prior to joining my current role in the public sector gave me insights into how businesses interact with government, the challenges they face and how government can make a strong impact.

I’m currently Chief of Staff to the CEO at Supply Ontario, a provincial agency created to centralize procurement and ensure Ontario is better prepared for future emergencies. I support the CEO across all areas, from policy and communications to stakeholder and government relations. My day-to-day includes preparing briefings, attending strategic meetings and helping drive the agency’s priorities forward. No two days are the same and the work is fast-paced and highly cross-functional.

I consistently apply skills I learned at ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø — from drafting communications materials and supporting event planning, to using social media strategically and applying both qualitative and quantitative research to communications planning. The program gave me the practical foundation I needed to succeed in a high-pressure, high-impact environment.

Two things stand out. First, the public speaking course was more valuable than I realized at the time. It gave me the confidence and skills to present at large events, speak on panels and presenting, even though I naturally prefer being behind the scenes. Second, learning how to write concisely has been critical throughout my career, especially in government and communications roles where clarity and precision are key. Public affairs is about speaking the language of policymakers, getting to root causes and coming with solutions. My time at ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø helped me to hone these skills.

I would love to continue my career within the Ontario Public Service and work with a variety of ministries that are meaningful to me.

Don’t be afraid to use your network: reach out, ask questions and take the initiative. Most people are happy to help. Say yes to new opportunities, speak up when you see ways to improve things and always come with solutions. And as you grow, remember to pay it forward to others starting out.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.