Board of Directors

A dynamic and passionate Business Communicator, Shruti brings in a vast assortment of experiences in the field of Marketing & Communications. Having studied and worked across various destinations, she has gained experience working for several industries including technology and software, retail, First Nations, public utility apart from ad. agencies.

Shruti is an active board member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Manitoba, and a proud recipient of the “Volunteer of the Year” award twice while leading numerous portfolios including the Marketing & Communications, Membership and Administration in the last eight years.

Formerly working as a Content Strategist with Manitoba Hydro, Shruti holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts from the Delhi University and a Masters in Advertising from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. She also accomplished a post-degree diploma in Public Relations and Strategic Communications from the University of Winnipeg.

In her spare time, you can find Shruti cruising in her bike exploring nature, capturing pictures and videos on her Canon Eos R, attending concerts or testing out her culinary skills.

Antonietta Versace is an experienced communications professional with nearly two decades of honing her skills in public relations, corporate communications, and community and employee engagement. She currently provides leadership in the planning, development and evaluation of all strategic communications efforts in support of the key business goals of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

Antonietta is a natural story-teller who has a passion for influencing and connecting with diverse audiences. Her highly energetic and positive approach has resulted in her ability to build effective relationships with clients all while identifying their needs and providing them with real solutions through the power of communications.

With a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and a Creative Communications diploma from Red River College, Antonietta believes in the importance of lifelong learning. She is excited to join the IABC’s Board of Directors as the Director of Career Development and is eager to connect and grow with other like-minded communications professionals, both locally and globally.

 Riley is a recent grad from both Red River College Polytechnic’s Creative Communications program and the University of Winnipeg, where he earned his bachelor’s in rhetoric and communications. He’s now getting his feet wet in the professional world as marketing and communications officer for a local municipality. 

Riley is a huge sports nerd who loves supporting the local scene — Jets, Bombers, Moose, Sea Bears, and Goldeyes merch fill his closet and walls and he’ll use any excuse to get into a sports debate with you. And when he’s not watching a game, tinkering with fantasy roster, or studying game film of his favourite players, Riley enjoys reading, writing, playing video games, listening to music, and riding his bike. 

He also loves to travel, eat beef jerky and BBQ chips, swim, make milkshakes, and visit new places. 

While he does find it rather challenging to write in third person like this, he doesn’t struggle to enjoy a good piece of cake. Follow his mom’s baking Instagram, @pieceofcake2019, for your opportunity to enjoy the same treats he’s blessed with.

Marissa Naylor is a Marketing and Communications professional with over seven years of experience across the not-for-profit, for-profit, and entrepreneurial sectors. She graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2021 and has held various roles focusing on digital marketing and strategic marketing. Outside the office, you can find Marissa on the bowling lanes competing with Team Canada, or on the golfing links competing in tournaments across the country.

Marissa looks forward to continuing her education as she pursues a Master of Business Administration.

Irene Dube is a dedicated communications professional with extensive experience in public relations, media management, and strategic communications. She currently serves as the Director of Communications for Central and Eastern Canada at Bee-Clean, where she leads key initiatives to enhance communication strategies across diverse stakeholders. 

Originally from Ontario, Irene now proudly calls Winnipeg home. She holds a diploma in print and broadcast journalism from Humber College, as well as a BA in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University,  which have provided a solid foundation for her career in communications. As the Co-Director of Marketing and Communications on the IABC Manitoba Board, she is excited to collaborate with other professionals and contribute to the continued growth of the communications field.

Sam Swanson is a Winnipeg-based writer, researcher and business developer, experienced in marketing and public relations within various sectors, including education, healthcare, science, technology and culture. Sam is the founder and CEO of Compound Connect, a clean-tech company that improves the tools and technologies used in environmental research and recycling processes.

Harkirat is a public relations, marketing and sales enthusiast who likes to communicate with new people around. He is a person who likes to look at the brighter side of the life and is a self-motivated personality. He is a student of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at The University of Winnipeg- PACE.

He has a prior experience into banking and insurance field as a Product Development Manager. He is also a Post Graduate Diploma holder in Marketing Management. He is now an active board member of IABC Manitoba and has been an active participant in various volunteering activities. It includes, HelpAge India, Blood Donation camps, Run for Liver campaigns, etc. He looks forward to stay associated with IABC Manitoba in the long run and keep networking in the field of Public Relations and Marketing.

In his spare time, you can find Harkirat traveling and exploring nature, talking to his family and friends. He likes to make new friends and is a family-oriented individual. He likes gardening and sports. You can find him in the park running, playing and exploring new sports during weekends.

1. Shape the professional development opportunities that are offered to you – Virtual events, workshops, accreditation: What would you like offered in Manitoba? Make your opinion count by being at the table when programming is planned.
2. Boost your public profile – How well known are you in the communications industry? Your profile will increase as a board member, which can help when job seeking or hiring.
3. Gain an international perspective – Create relationships with communicators in Manitoba, across Canada and internationally.
4. Fuel your passion as a communicator – When’s the last time you shared your communications talent outside of your employer or communicated about a different subject matter? Restore your love for communications in communications tactics like our social media channels or member emails.
5. Volunteer alongside a talented, fun group of professionals who are all committed to offering Manitoba communicators networking and professional development.

If you are interested in a board leadership position, email a link to your LinkedIn profile or resume to iabc.manitoba@gmail.com