Committee

Catherine Ducharme
Partner, Outsidein Communications
Founder, High-Tech Communicators’ Exchange

Catherine has many years of experience (more than she cares to admit) in branding and corporate and marketing communications. She’s co-founder of Outsidein Communications, a brand and communications company established in 2007. Catherine has also worked client side holding senior level positions with major technology and life sciences organizations. She’s an avid speaker and writer addressing topics on branding, networking, communications skills, retaining talent and aligning your workforce. Catherine is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, part of the IABC Toastmasters Group and also an IABC mentor. An initiator and connector, Catherine founded the HTCE in 2001 to provide an accessible forum for professional communicators to learn from each other.
p 604 637-6372
cducharme(at)outsidein.ca

Jennifer Lee
Treasurer, High-Tech Communicators’ Exchange

Jennifer has worked in BC’s high tech and biotech industries over the past 10 years. Jen has worked at Mainframe Entertainment, ALI Technologies, BC Biotech, and her most recent work at the BC Safety Authority has expanded her experience in online marketing and analytics. Jen holds a joint degree in Business and Communications from Simon Fraser University. As a pragmatic marcom professional, Jen obtained her Certificate in Web Intelligence from the University of Irvine, California joint initiative with the Web Analytics Certificate from the University of British Columbia. Jen has a knack for numbers and has performed finance-related tasks for the HTCE and is glad to be back on board in managing this function moving forward for the HTCE.
p 604 946 9189

Neena Rahemtulla
Director, Marketing, Ultrasonix
Executive Committee, High-Tech Communicators’ Exchange

Neena has worked as a communications professional in BC’s high tech industry for about 20 years. Starting with MPR Teltech immediately after graduating from SFU’s Communications program, she has enjoyed the unique challenges of being a non-techie in a techie environment. Neena’s career has included stints at Cymbolic Sciences, Gretag Imaging, Xantrex Technology, Creo, MDSI, SAP and CDC Software. She is currently Director of Marketing at Ultrasonix, a leading manufacturer of ultrasound equipment founded in BC. Neena joined the HTCE executive in 2005. She enjoys being part of a group that creates opportunities to exchange ideas and share experiences with like-minded professionals.

Sharon Habib
Partner Outsidein Communications

Sharon has a 20+ year career in marketing and brand communications. Starting out practicing speech therapy predominantly with deaf kids, she transitioned to working for a large financial services company in South Africa where she “translated” heavy-duty legal text into plain English for lay people, and also worked as a senior internal communications consultant to the firm’s clients, branding and communicating pension and health benefits funds. In Canada she has managed marketing communications and several brands in high tech and financial services companies. In 2007 Sharon and Catherine Ducharme started Outsidein Communications focusing on brand communication, employee and change communication.

On the personal front, she’s jazzed by the arts, interesting conversations, and is passionate about the environment.

Melissa Joaquin
Digital Communications & Social Media Marketing Specialist

Melissa has worked in Marketing for over seven years. Starting in the natural health care industry, she was able to root her marketing practice through traditional methods but also explored the realms of new media. She enjoys the challenge of identifying and translating business goals to the online landscape by creating strategic communications and marketing plans for small to medium sized business and organizations throughout North America. Focused on collaboration, Melissa facilitates dynamic brainstorming and creative idea exchanges with her clients. This is the first year she is part of the HTCE executive committee and is eager to connect people to things that matter.

www.melissajoaquin.com