Sydney Pothakos

Vice President, Public Affairs

As Vice President of Public Affairs at Henley Strategies, she leads clients through complex regulatory and policy environments, helping them anticipate change, manage challenges, and build the coalitions needed to deliver results.

 

Most recently, Sydney served in a senior leadership role at Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, where she guided policy development and managed stakeholder engagement on high-profile files. She also played a key role at the Ministry of Finance, contributing to fiscal strategy and advancing cross-government priorities that shaped the province’s financial direction.

 

Her career began in academia, where she contributed to research on governance and international resilience frameworks. Beyond government, Sydney has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service and political engagement. She volunteered internationally at the Moria Refugee Camp in Greece during the Syrian refugee crisis and later ran as a candidate for the Ontario PC Party in University–Rosedale in 2025, reflecting her ongoing dedication to public service and civic leadership.

 

Sydney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University and has also studied at the University of Ottawa.

 

At Henley, Sydney applies her knowledge of policy, government, and stakeholder dynamics to help clients navigate regulatory issues, influence decision-making, and position themselves for long-term success. She is recognized for her collaborative leadership style, her ability to bridge diverse perspectives, and her commitment to developing practical, achievable solutions.

Being effective in this business requires hard-earned perspective, a keen eye for policy, a quick wit and a relentless work ethic. Laryssa sees the play develop and will put you in a great position to get competitive results.
Flavio Volpe, C.M.

President at Automotive Parts Manufacturers'​ Association (APMA)

Laryssa is far and away the best government relations consultant with whom I have worked. She is incredibly plugged-in, brimming with energy, and possessed of excellent judgement. Laryssa not only knows what to do, and at just the right moment, but equally importantly she knows what not to do, and why.
Bruce Reynolds

Co-Managing Partner, Mediator and Arbitrator, Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP

There are a number of reasons you should hire Laryssa – not the least of which is her unique understanding of the intersection of government relations and communications and her ability to integrate both into successful strategies. She provides straightforward and easy to comprehend advice on what can be very complicated issues. Further, she is calm in a storm and cannot be rattled!
Karen Gordon

Founder of Gordon Strategy

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