Brian Topp

Fellow

Brian Topp is a founding partner at gt&co, a public affairs advisory firm focused on helping companies in regulated sectors protect, grow and secure their reputations. He is also a lecturer at the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University.

Brian is an accomplished political strategist, writer and former union leader, with extensive experience in both the provincial and national political arenas.

Brian’s experience in provincial governments includes serving as chief of staff to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley from 2015 to 2017 and directing her transition team when she took office in 2015.

Before that, he was director of research for the Government of Saskatchewan’s Executive Council before becoming former premier Roy Romanow’s deputy chief of staff. Federally, Brian was the New Democratic Party’s national campaign director in 2006 and 2008. Following the death of Jack Layton in 2012, he ran for the party leadership.

Brian’s career outside of government includes tenures as a partner in strategic consulting firm KTG Public Affairs and 11 years as the executive director and CEO of ACTRA Toronto.

From 2017 to 2020, Brian was a member of Canada’s bipartisan NAFTA advisory council, which helped advise on the renegotiation of the trilateral trade deal.

Brian is chair of the board at the Broadbent Institute, and has served on numerous other boards, including Creative Arts Savings & Credit Union, FilmOntario and Pinewood Toronto Studios.

Brian has a bachelor’s degree in arts, history and political science from McGill University.

Brian joined PPF as a Fellow in 2017.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn.