The PR Trust has appointed tobias c. van Veen, Ph.D, as its Executive Director. Dr. van Veen is an award-winning media and global communications strategist with over twenty years experience in higher education, technology arts and the digital humanities.
“I am excited to see the PR Trust grow as a positive force for civil society through its focus on compassionate communications,” said Dr. van Veen, who holds doctorates in Communication Studies and Philosophy from McGill University.
“We believe that communicating with compassion is at the heart of our mission, as we develop mentorships, education outreach and professionalization opportunities,” says Dr. van Veen. “Compassion speaks to WHY we do what we do, which is to share our knowledge and experiences and learn from that of others. Compassion also speaks to why we believe that professional communications — trusting, transparent, and compassionate — are fundamental to developing a robust civil society.”
Formerly the education and research advisor to The PR Trust, Dr. van Veen has spearheaded initiatives in digital communications including open access publishing and the mobile commons. With university, industry and creative partners he has organised over four dozen international events focusing on higher education, media arts and civil society. He is known for developing creative partnerships between academic, cultural and technology sectors through innovative events, media platforms and publications.
From 2002 to 2008, Dr. van Veen was Director of global technology arts network UpgradeMTL at the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), where he forged partnerships with Eyebeam (NYC), MUTEK and Turbulence.org. From 2004–2006, he was Director of the Sonic Scene Project for the Mobile Digital Commons Network, a multi-university and creative industry partnership sponsored by Canada Heritage. From 1997 through 2002 he held various executive positions with CiTR 101.9FM, UBC’s campus and community radio.
Dr. van Veen currently teaches critical communications studies at Quest University while undertaking research in Media and Cultural Studies at University of California, Riverside. He is Editor of the “Black Lives, Black Politics, Black Futures” special issue of TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies (2018).
