About Mariam

Mariam Mesbah has been a professional communicator for more than 15 years, working both as a journalist and a corporate communications advisor.  She is a writer, editor, researcher and media relations expert.

Journalist

Mariam began her career as a radio journalist in Newfoundland, Canada’s most easterly province. Since then, she has worked for a variety of Canadian media outlets, including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Strategy Business magazine. Her career also took her to the Middle East where she wrote for two publications, Egypt Today and Business Today Egypt.

In addition, Mariam has freelanced for numerous publications, including Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper, Chatelaine, Outpost and Dollhouse Miniatures magazines.

Corporate Communications Expert

As a Senior Communications Advisor with the City of Brampton, Ontario, Mariam managed the communications portfolios and media relations for the Planning and Development, Transit, Community Services and Fire and Emergency Services Departments.  She was also an active member of the city’s Emergency Measures Office, providing crisis communications guidance and media relations support to the team.

In 2010, she oversaw the city’s media relations strategy for its Olympic Torch Relay Event that led up to the Vancouver Winter Olympics.  It was a highly successful campaign that garnered unprecedented media coverage for the city.

As National Communications Manager for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Mariam collaborated with corporate sponsors, volunteers and cancer researchers to develop a positive communications strategy for the organization. She also oversaw the national communications planning for its annual “Run for the Cure” fundraiser.

Five Fun Facts about Mariam:

• She wrote her first story in a yellow Hilroy exercise book at eight years old. It told the story of an excited family -remarkably like her own – who took a giant airplane bound for Europe.
• When Mariam was still in journalism school, an article she wrote about CBC news commentator Rex Murphy was highlighted by the Globe and Mail newspaper as one of the best articles in Canada to read that month.
• In 2000, she and five colleagues spent four months traveling across Canada pulling a silver airstream trailer, and collecting stories from Canadians about their lives. The stories were broadcast on CBC radio throughout the summer.
• When she worked in Cairo, Egypt, Mariam lived on a houseboat on the Nile, camped in the desert and spent a week at an oasis in the Sahara.
• When she is not writing, Mariam loves DIY renovation and all the mess that goes with it. She renovated her first house and is now working on prettying up her second.