SCALABLE TO YOUR NEEDS
Millard-Edward Group is a consulting firm that can tailor its services to your needs. That means our core team is the Principal, Senior Partner and Director of Stakeholder Relations, augmented by a suite of additional supports and services that are scalable as needed. For example, some clients need help in one jurisdiction only (federally or one province), while others require expertise in other provinces including Quebec, or internationally. Some clients need Government Relations advice, while others need guidance on Sales & Marketing or Business Development. We can also bring in team members to assist with communications, media, translation, and more, to meet clients' unique needs.
Justin Brown - President & Founder
Justin A. Brown has over 30 years’ experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. He has extensive expertise in External Relations, encompassing both Government and Stakeholder Relations.
Justin has served as political aide to three senior cabinet ministers at the federal level (Justice, Public Security / Solicitor General, International Trade / Industry, Science and Technology) and Chief of Staff to the Minister across several Ontario Government portfolios (Solicitor General, Economic Development and Trade, Consumer and Commercial Relations, Public Safety and Cabinet Chair). He is an expert in issues management, having played a key role in responses to the Ice Storm, SARS Crisis, Electricity Blackout and 9/11.
He has represented major health research not-for-profits, including the Heart & Stroke Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, where he led teams that raised transformational levels of funding, created new, innovative and life-saving programs and successfully advocated for lasting public policy change to improve the health of Canadians. He has represented numerous innovative pharmaceutical and medical devices firms, and many other reputable organizations, designing and executing successful government contact and policy-advocacy strategies.
Justin holds positive relationships with relevant public officials and stakeholders, the private sector, and the not-for-profit sectors. He routinely represents a diverse set of clients at all three levels of government: municipal, provincial and federal, helping connect them to the right decision-makers, armed with the right strategy and messages.
Justin is also former CEO of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, where he was recently recognized for his leadership in guiding the organization to acheive an historic OHIP agreement, which is improving eyecare for patients, as well as guiding the organization in growing its membership to the highest level ever.
Justin has his B.A. in Political Science from Carleton University. He has been active in political circles throught his career, is a father of 3 and resides in Etobicoke, Ontario.
Janet Burton - SENIOR PARTNER
Janet Burton is a bilingual Sales & Marketing Executive, with over 30 years of proven experience in a series of positions of progressive responsibility with recognized brands, including: CIBC, Moore Business Products, Unilever, Maple Leaf Foods, Heinz, The Little Potato Company and more. Most recently, she successfully led brand-building, drove business and revenue growth, developed winning marketing strategies, negotiated key agreements and integrated multiple important acquistions into larger operations.
Janet is hardworking, resourceful and respected in the industry for her professionalism and conscientious approach, known for building strong stakeholder partnerships and consistently helping companies exceed sales expectations and goals. Janet has a passion for sales and go-to-market-strategy that is unmatched. She excels at new business development, demonstrating a creative and resourceful approach and is particularly adept at recognizing opportunities others seemingly could not - a unique and inherent skill she brings to her clients when providing strategic counsel.
She has also held influential positions in trade finance and has demonstrated broad versatility and leadership in all her roles. She employs her skills, expertise and unmatched unthusiasm to help clients acheive their strategic goals.
Janet is a seasoned senior leader with many years of experience in the CPG industry. Working with her business partnes in Marketing, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain and IT, she has a proven track-record of delivering excellent results. In addition, she has successfully developed and honed skills vital to results-driven management of dynamic teams, development and implementation, and the rejuvenation of business processes. Janet has had great opportunities to work in a variety of roles and this has helped in the development of strong business acumen, influencing and leadership skills and the ability to build and work across functional teams.
She attended Concordia University in her home province of Quebec and now resides in Toronto, Ontario, with her family.
Jasmine Brown - director, stakeholder relations
Jasmine Brown joined the Millard-Edward Group in 2020 as the Director of Stakeholder Relations. Over the past 20 years, Jasmine has built professional experience across a range of public, private and not-for-profit sectors, bringing perspectives on policy development and analysis, economic development, community building, and advocacy and outreach.
Jasmine has 10 years of federal experience in the public sector, including senior policy development and analysis on economic development issues, as well as Federal/Provincial/Territorial work on child poverty at Human Resources and Social Development Canada. She was also a researcher and Head of Research Dissemination at the Department of Justice Canada.
As Executive Director of a Business Improvement Area for over 5 years, Jasmine worked closely with a group of 350+ small and medium enterprises in the Ottawa area to help build relationships and advocate with all levels of government, as well as market and promote their products and services.
Reaching out, building connections and relationships, and bringing a diverse mix of people together around a common goal is something Jasmine is passionate about. In her work at the Millard-Edward Group this includes advocacy for and engaging with clients, crafting clear, concise and compelling messaging to help influence key conversations, and providing strategic advice. As Jasmine says, “I’m most useful when I’m in a position to help others succeed.”
Jasmine has a B.A. from Carleton University, and lives in Ottawa with her two children.