Tim Barber
With more than 19 years of work experience, Tim Barber brings a variety of communications, political and government-related skills to the Bluesky Strategy Group, a company that he co-founded in 2003.
His clients at Bluesky Strategy Group include, and have included, the Canadian Tourism Commission, Canadian Music Industry Coalition, Elections Canada, Industry Canada, Agriculture Canada, Indian & Northern Affairs Canada, the National Research Council, Canada’s Research Based Pharmaceutical Industry, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, Indian Oil & Gas Canada, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Alenia North America, Canadian Centre for Child Protection, Plutonic Power Corporation, Canada 2020, Impossible 2 Possible, First Nations Tax Commission, Roche, MD Management, Parkinson Society Canada, Health Council of Canada and the Canadian Medical Association.
His public service experience includes working in the Privy Council Office, Federal-Provincial Relations Office, Employment and Immigration, the Senate of Canada, and in the offices of both the Minister of International Trade and the Deputy Prime Minister.
Tim is also a Co-Founder of Canada 2020, Canada’s newest Progressive Centre whose outputs include a June 2006 launch conference with held in Mont Tremblant, QC that featured Vice-President Al Gore, economist Jeffrey Sachs and other prominent speakers.
In March 2007, Tim organized another Canada 2020 conference, which hosted Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Salman Rushdie, Wired Magazine’s Chris Anderson and author Tim Flannery, as well as Ministers John Baird and Josée Verner.
In September 2008, Tim worked with the Financial Times of London, which co-hosted with Canada 2020 “A View from the Top” with the Financial Post featuring speakers such as former US Treasury Secretary Bob Rubin, historian and author Niall Ferguson, Chinese economist Fan Gang and Rory Stewart, celebrated author and founder of the Turquoise Mountain Foundation. Since 2007, Canada 2020 has also hosted a regular Speakers’ Series. www.canada2020.ca.
Tim also worked as Director, Government Relations for the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) from 1994-1997. While with the council, he visited the People’s Republic of China twice, worked on the first ever Team Canada trade mission to China and helped to organize five CCBC Annual General Meetings (Vancouver, Beijing, Montreal, Shanghai and Toronto).
In the spring of 1997, Tim joined the staff of the Minister of International Trade as Legislative Assistant and Policy Advisor (APEC & People’s Republic of China). While at International Trade, Barber assisted in organizing the largest ever ministerial trade mission to China – over 100 representatives of Canadian business, education and non-governmental communities.
In the fall of 1999, Tim left the public service and became General Manager and Senior Vice-President of one of the largest public relations firms in Canada.
Tim holds a BA (Hons.) in Politics from Acadia University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Concordia University. He is fluently bilingual.