New communications director brings experience working for diocese of Toronto

The Anglican Church of Canada’s recently hired director of communications, who worked 10 years for the diocese of Toronto, says she is looking forward to working with the church again as she prepares to take on the role.

Henrieta Paukov, who stepped into the job Nov. 27 following the retirement of predecessor Joseph Vecsi, served as communications coordinator at the Anglican diocese of Toronto from 2004 to 2014. She has also supervised communications for the Girl Guides of Canada and most recently for the Building Industry and Land Development Association, a Toronto-based industry group.

Paukov calls her decade working for the diocese of Toronto—during which she managed the diocesan website and social media and wrote for diocesan newspaper The Anglican—the most meaningful time of her career so far.

“I love telling the stories of parishes and individual Anglicans who really lived their values through things like service, advocacy for social justice, caring for creation,” Paukov says. “That’s why when I saw this opportunity [to become General Synod communications director], I was excited and I decided to apply.”

General Secretary Archdeacon Alan Perry said in an Oct. 30 staff announcement that Paukov “brings a wealth of communications experience from work with industry associations and not-for-profit organizations.”

Paukov says her specific priorities will become clear within her first few months on the job.

“To begin with, I’m going to be doing a lot of listening and learning … so that I can understand the culture of General Synod and the different stakeholders, as well as the larger context in which the church currently operates,” she says.

“Another big priority for me will be to get to know the communications team at Church House and learn how I can best support each of them in their work so that we can produce great communications for General Synod together,” she adds.