Chief of Staff
Toby Goodfellow
Toby Goodfellow was hired as Lakehead University’s Director of Media Relations in June 2012 before being appointed Acting Senior Advisor to the President in July 2015. He remained in that position until being named Chief of Staff in March 2017. Toby and his family moved to Thunder Bay from Montreal in 2010. Prior to that, he enjoyed 15 years in Montreal’s radio and television scene, earning national and international awards for his creativity and writing. He also established Goodfellow Communication, a company through which he supported the public relations needs of national and multinational agencies and organizations.
A fervent believer in postsecondary education, Toby is a graduate of Champlain College, Concordia University, and McGill University, in addition to being a Lakehead alumnus (BEd’11/MEd’15).
Learn more about Toby Goodfellow
Position Overview
Reporting directly to the President, the Chief of Staff is a member of the University’s senior executive team. The Chief of Staff provides advice and coordinates priorities and processes to ensure that the Office of the President operates efficiently. This includes overseeing interactions with the President’s direct reports in the areas of governance and management, internal and external relationships, and key projects under the President’s direction.
The Chief of Staff is also responsible for the Media Relations team in Lakehead Thunder Bay and Lakehead Orillia. This entails managing and assessing appropriate responses to internal and external communications and taking a leadership role when sensitive media situations arise.