Alison Burgess

Alison Burgess is an accomplished public sector leader who serves as the Executive Director of Communications and Engagement for the Regional Municipality of Durham. She brings a highly unique, data-driven perspective to public policy and civic outreach, backed by an extensive background that includes a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Her work focuses heavily on building strategic community partnerships and designing innovative communication frameworks to improve regional public service delivery.

Before stepping into her current executive role, she managed Durham’s Government and Community Relations portfolio, where she successfully championed the region's Intelligent Communities Framework. Her initiatives helped secure consecutive global top "Smart21" community designations for Durham. Her diverse career path also features deep roots in both healthcare and academia, including clinical research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, institutional partnership management at Ontario Tech University, and teaching at Durham College.

Beyond her daily municipal responsibilities, she remains highly active in regional governance and education. She serves as a provincially appointed member of the Durham College Board of Governors, helping oversee local post-secondary operations. Additionally, she spearheaded Durham's inclusion in the CityStudio Global Network, an innovative partnership that directly bridges local college and university students with regional staff to co-create sustainable municipal projects.