Ailie Somerville

Ailie Somerville has worked in communications for the past nine years, providing counsel to high-profile clients.  From 2001 to 2008, Ailie worked as a senior consultant at Optimum Public Relations in Vancouver, the public relations division of Cossette, an international communications firm with operations around the world.  Prior to joining Optimum, Ailie was the co- creator/proprietor of the Mercury Lounge in Ottawa.

As an Account Director at Optimum, Ailie specialized in strategic communications planning and writing, as well as her expertise in event planning and media relations campaigns.  Her work at Optimum included playing a leadership role supporting Bell Canada’s launch and growth in Western Canada and building internal and external programs in support of Bell’s 2010 Winter Games sponsorship.  Highlight projects at Optimum include: a key role directing all event logistics for the Business Council of British Columbia’s inaugural Pacific Economic Summit that featured California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the keynote speaker; developing and overseeing implementation of external communications plans in support of Bell’s Own the Podium 2010 fundraising programs with the Barenaked Ladies and Suzie McNeil (Believe); and writing an online course about Bell’s 2010 Games role for the company’s more than 44,000 employees across Canada.

In 2006, Ailie was seconded by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Communications team. During the eight-month position, Ailie wrote CEO briefs and speaking notes, travelled across Canada with the Games CEO; managed media relations (both proactive and in response to international and national media inquiries); and lead new sponsorship announcements, including Royal Canadian Mint.

As co- creator, owner and operator of the Mercury Lounge for more than three years, Ailie gained valuable insight into business, financial and municipal permitting issues.  In support of the Lounge’s opening, Ailie conducted a media relations campaign that resulted in the Lounge being ranked by the Globe and Mail as one of North America’s Top 10 Martini Bars.

Ailie has a joint Masters degree in Philosophy and Sociology from the University of Glasgow and diploma in Public Relations from Algonquin College in Ottawa.