This in-person event brings together leaders from publishing, public relations, and corporate communications to explore how visibility and credibility are built in today’s evolving AEC media landscape. Designed for mid- to senior-level marketing and communications professionals across architecture, engineering, and construction, the session will examine how stories are evaluated, shared, and discovered across AEC and beyond. 

Panelists will discuss how media fragmentation, changing audience behaviours, digital platforms, and AI-driven content discovery are reshaping the way firms build visibility and thought leadership. The conversation will explore the shift back to earned media, the value of editorial credibility and targeted industry publications, and how communications strategies increasingly support broader business development and client experience goals.

Attendees will gain practical insight into positioning expertise, preparing subject matter experts, developing realistic PR and communications strategies, and creating stories that resonate with audiences.

The panel will be followed by a networking social with drinks and light refreshments.

Learning objectives

Event schedule

Panel

Todd Latham, Chairman and Founder, SiteMedia

Todd is a media entrepreneur with over three decades experience in business management, marketing and communications. He is Founder and Chairman of SiteMedia; one of the largest B2B publishers and event delivery companies in Canada - serving the construction, water, waste, infrastructure, real estate and environment sectors with unique content, experiences and data services. Todd is a cross-industry participant, advisor and communicator with broad practical knowledge and an extensive network across multiple sectors of Canada's economy. He is co-Chair of Magazines Canada B2B Advisory Committee and a vocal supporter of independent business media across Canada. Todd is also an active investor in various Canadian cleantech startup companies and a proud 2011 IAE alumnus of 2041 - an international group founded by Robert Swan which is committed the promotion of renewable energy and the preservation of the Antarctic continent.

Riva Finkelstein, Strategic Communications Consultant

Riva Finkelstein is a strategic communications and marketing leader with more than 16 years of experience working in Canada’s real estate development sector across all corners of the eco-system. Before becoming an independent consultant, she worked in both agency and in-house roles leading communications, marketing and business development strategies for real estate developers, asset owners and investors, as well as architecture, design and urban planning firms.

From creating project narratives to executing thought leadership campaigns that help build credibility and reputations, her passion and expertise lies in helping clients more effectively connect with their audiences through strategic communications and storytelling. More recently her work has increasingly focused on clients and projects with robust sustainability and social impact mandates, including creative placemaking, affordable housing, and the industry’s transition to low 
carbon.

With a background in journalism, Riva maintains strong relationships with mainstream and trade media across Canada and has a strong ability to break down complex and nuanced ideas about real estate development and city building into compelling narratives that land.

Careesa Gee, Senior External Communications Manager, TYLin

Careesa is a communications professional with over a decade of experience in marketing and communications across the AEC industry. Trained as a journalist, her background is in sustainability and urban planning. She is currently focused on external communications as part of a shared services team supporting TYLin and Introba.  

Ian Graham, Publisher, NRU Publishing

Ian Graham is the sole proprietor of NRU Publishing Inc., a company that publishes two weekly newsletters on planning and development news in the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Ian founded the publication 29 years ago and focuses his efforts on growing the circulation and advertising of the company and ensuring that NRU remains a ‘must have’ news source to industry professionals.

NRU Publishing is a small, private company with seven employees. As a content provider, the company researches and writes all of the articles that are produced in the two newsletters – two issues a week, 50 weeks a year. In 2026, NRU Publishing began updating its publication distribution by creating both a web-based platform and a smart phone app for accessing newsletters.  The new system is anticipated to launch in the fall of 2026.

Ian is also Director of R.E. Millward & Associates Ltd. As a professional planner for almost 40 years, he is involved with the firm’s land use and urban 
planning projects. Ian works with clients both in the public and private sectors, with a specialty knowledge on zoning by-laws and the development of 
comprehensive zoning by-laws for municipalities.

Moderator

Nina Boccia, Senior Director, Business Development & Marketing, KPMB 

Nina Boccia is a business development and marketing professional with over a decade of experience creating dynamic and engaging content that connects to vision and values. She previously served as an associate editor at AZURE Magazine and managing editor of its sister publication, Designlines, where she interviewed and reported on the best minds in design and architecture.

Through her work in arts and culture in Toronto, she has held various leadership positions; creating and overseeing programming, marketing initiatives, and fundraising efforts. Prior to joining KPMB, Nina was a national marketing and communications lead for a Canadian design firm. She has spearheaded and managed national marketing efforts including branding campaigns, partnerships, and content strategies.

Nina is passionate about sharing stories that are purpose-driven, facilitate important conversations, drive investment in community and culture, illustrate the transformative power of design, and champion the people creating meaningful impact. Outside of her work at the firm, Nina sits on the advisory board for BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto), and is the president of the Ontario chapter for the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS).

Markendium domains of practice

Continuing Education Credits: 1.5

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Event Notes