Andrea Lee knows everyone, and every organization, has a story. For more than 20 years, she has researched, shaped and shared those stories with audiences across North America. In 2026, she founded Willowtree Communications to help leaders connect with their audiences with clear, effective communication.

As a former journalist and, more recently, as a vice president at two public relations agencies in Toronto, her work is fuelled by an open mind, empathy and a seemingly endless amount of curiosity. Her genuine and earnest belief in the value of news interviews has made her a sought-after media trainer for C-suite and executive teams at some of Canada’s best-known and most influential companies. She has worked one-on-one or in small groups with senior executives in professional, financial and legal services; as well as the retail grocery and pharmacy, tech, energy, mining and pharmaceutical industries. She is a speechwriter and op-ed writer for CEOs, presidents, innovators and influencers. In all things, she prefers and advocates for plain language that resonates with real people. She is laser-sharp on messaging, attuned to what audiences need to hear to pay attention and take action.

Before switching to PR in 2018, Andrea spent 15 years as a reporter, writer and producer. Her work spanned local, national and world news, across radio, television and digital. Among the highlights: producing a Gemini Award-winning investigative documentary for CBC’s The Fifth Estate; a two-year assignment at the CBC’s bureau in Washington, D.C., to cover the 2008 U.S. Presidential election; and leading editorial and content strategy for the 2014, 2016 and 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She has conducted thousands of interviews, has asked tens of thousands of questions, and is uniquely qualified to judge the quality of an answer.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Andrea speaks English and French fluently, and holds degrees in literature and journalism from McGill University and Columbia University, respectively. She lives in Toronto with her two children and their ongoing hopes for a new dog.