Maria Pontikis

Chief Communications Officer

Maria Pontikis joined the City of Vancouver in February 2021 from the Ontario Government, where she most recently served as Director of Communications, Cabinet Office, leading the teams that provide communications services to the Office of the Premier of Ontario. Her career in communications has spanned strategic communications, digital strategy, crisis and issues management, executive communications and integrated marketing, and diverse portfolios including health care, immigration, finance, tourism, and economic development.

Maria has led communications planning for Premier’s trade missions to nearly a dozen international markets, from India to Hong Kong to Israel. She helped to launch and manage Ontario’s first online government newsroom, which transformed how the government delivered news to citizens. She has led executive and stakeholder communications for Ontario’s Secretary of the Cabinet, who helms a 60,000+ person public service. She has expertise in intergovernmental and protocol-driven communications, having led such planning for throne speeches, a royal visit, joint cabinets, and bilateral meetings with premiers and governors.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Studies from Queen’s University.