About Us
Led by a team with deep experience and unmatched expertise in healthcare advocacy, communications, and stakeholder engagement, EMPOWER Advocacy approaches every challenge with energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and purpose. We are committed to championing vital causes and ensuring that those affected by gaps in the healthcare system are supported and empowered to make their voices heard.
We don’t just aim to influence change—we help make change happen.
Together, we can build a more inclusive, accessible, and compassionate healthcare system for all.
Our Team
Joanne Koskie
Chief Executive Officer
With decades of experience in public relations and public affairs, Joanne is a trusted advisor to clients in the healthcare industry and non-profit sectors. She excels in all aspects of communications, disease awareness, and advocacy engagement. Joanne's expertise is further enriched by her leadership roles in communications for two national patient advocacy organizations. She collaborates seamlessly with clients to drive and support regulatory and reimbursement efforts, ensuring that healthcare innovations are accessible to all Canadians who can benefit from them.
Joanne has developed extensive expertise in various therapeutic areas, including neurology, oncology, and rare diseases including hematologic, neuromuscular, and metabolic disorders. She has successfully built and implemented numerous pan-Canadian provincial campaigns to secure access to life-changing diagnostics, drugs, and devices. A career highlight for Joanne was leading healthcare provider communications for the launch of Canada’s first colorectal cancer screening program.
An active volunteer with several patient advocacy groups, Joanne currently is a Director of the Canadian iRARE Centres and previously served on the Board of the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders.
Lauren Poplak
Vice President
Lauren is a passionate and accomplished leader in patient advocacy and stakeholder engagement. With over a decade of experience empowering organizations, healthcare professionals, and patient communities, Lauren excels at creating and executing tailored advocacy strategies that champion vital causes.
Lauren has held senior leadership roles with organizations such as EVERSANA and the ALS Society of Canada, where she strategically guided multi-faceted patient engagement and advocacy initiatives. Her expertise’s are rooted in shaping national and international health policy recommendations, developing transformative advocacy training programs, and spearheading successful communication campaigns. Her work has led to improved access to therapies and strengthened relationships across industry, patient groups, and policymakers.
Known for her vibrant, energetic approach, Lauren brings enthusiasm and authenticity to every interaction, fostering deep relationships that yield sustainable solutions. She is recognized for her ability to lead teams with empathy and purpose, create safe spaces for growth, and collaborate across diverse groups to achieve shared goals
Partners
EMPOWER Advocacy has curated a network of partners who share our values and depth of experience to ensure we can meet all your needs. Whether it’s advocacy strategy and support in Quebec, leveraging AI to enhance advocacy efforts, or conveying clinical advocacy input through medical writing, we’ve got you covered!
Lise Huneault
Alice Public Relations
With 30 years of public relations experience, Lise Huneault is a passionate communicator, recognized as being a creative, strategic and results-oriented professional. The founder of Montreal-based Alice Relations Publiques, Lise has extensive expertise in stakeholder engagement, advocacy training and support, traditional and digital media relations, and cultivating strategic partnerships. Throughout her career, Lise has worked within the pharmaceutical industry and as a consultant to patient organizations, leading and supporting successful disease awareness and advocacy initiatives in Quebec and across Canada.
Alanna Fox
Foxwell Communications
A results-focused communications professional, Alanna brings a diverse skill set to the table as principal of Foxwell Communications, including strategy development, writing, media relations, and digital/social media expertise to support a variety of audiences. Throughout her over 25 years of experience in health communications, she has worked across every stage of a product’s life cycle and within a variety of therapeutic areas. With extensive experience and an unwavering dedication to clarity in science communication, Alanna’s work bridges the gap between complex health information and the public.