Sarah Geisler, BPE, MBA
Engagement & Sustainability Expert
A dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in the areas of engagement, leadership and strategic planning. Extensive training through the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), including training for Engagement in Emotion and Outrage situations allows Sarah to help develop the working relationships needed for all parties to start a project off on the right foot, and to support ongoing project success. With an MBA from the University of Alberta, and 19 years of municipal experience, Sarah’s varied work history brings new perspective to the TSI team.
Current Responsibilities
Senior Consultant
Years of Experience
19
Location
Alberta
Qualifications
University of Alberta – Masters of Business Administration
University of Alberta – Bachelor of Physical Education
International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) – Public Participation Foundations Certificate
International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) – Public Participation for Emotion and Outrage Certificate
Specializations
Strategic Planning
Engagement Planning and Coordination
Research and Analysis
Recreation and Leisure
Management
Municipal Project Work Experience
- Key project member for development of Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks in municipalities throughout Alberta
- Facilitated Strategic Plan development for multiple small municipalities throughout central Alberta
- Developed Strathcona County’s Aquatic Strategy, including recommendations for $40 million in capital infrastructure, by way of the most extensive public engagement efforts ever undertaken by the County at that time
- Collaborated on the development of Strathcona County’s municipal Growth Strategy
- Developed an analytical rating tool for recommending municipal capital investment in community partnership projects
- Collaborated on the implementation of Priority Based Budgeting for Strathcona County
- Worked collaboratively with Municipal and Corporate Communications in the development of external communications including newsletters, brochures, social media and electronic information packages for stakeholders
Engagement Work Experience
- Coordinated engagement with 20 stakeholder groups and the general public to develop a sustainability strategy for community halls in primarily rural Strathcona County.
- Developed annual planning frameworks for municipal public engagement processes
- Developed detailed engagement plans for major capital infrastructure investment projects
- Design and facilitation of public consultation for non-profit organizations
- Developed highly effective online engagement tools to allow for better representation of community and user-group demographics in engagement results
- Development and rollout of engagement plans for highly politically charged and contentious capital infrastructure projects, achieving the goal of generating support for the project in the immediate neighbourhood and broader community
- 2018 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) conference presenter – Developments in Canadian Public Consultation