Mike McDonald
Senior Research Associate (Vancouver)
Mike has built his career at the crossroads of public opinion research, communications, public affairs, and strategy. He led the BC Liberal Party’s 2013 election campaign, hailed as “stunning” and a “win for the ages” by Canadian news outlets – and later served as Chief of Staff to Premier Christy Clark.
As a researcher, Mike adds a strong understanding of the underlying political, socio-cultural, and demographic context that is critical to ensuring that the research findings successfully inform strategy. He conducts research for public affairs clients across numerous sectors, including health care, energy, transportation, policing, government, and membership and stakeholder associations. His experience commissioning major research projects while holding other roles in the past has resulted in a superior approach to client service and research reporting.
Mike’s work with Pollara complements his ongoing role as Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Kirk & Co., a leader in communications and public consultation/engagement. He is co-host of Hotel Pacifico, a public affairs podcast focusing on public affairs on the west coast. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
