Founder & Lead Publicist

Erin Richards

Founder, Erin Richards, is one of Toronto’s best known media and influencer relations specialists whose vast network of media and talent contacts spans across North America. 

Prior to starting Hype, Erin led entertainment and sports publicity efforts for CBC. She has handled epic Olympic campaigns for Canadian Tire, landed the first-ever Knix ambassadors, launched purpose-driven athlete led influencer campaigns for Special Olympics Canada, represented names like Penny Oleksiak, and produced content creator events and red-carpets on behalf of brands like eOne and TIFF. 

On the agency side she has applied her unique expertise to a variety of clients and projects across industries - from helping to grow brand awareness for startups at time of launch, to managing campaigns for some of Canada’s top brands, such as Roots, MadeGood or Rogers Sports and Media. 

Director

Brigitte Kenny

A public relations professional, Brigitte has a solid background in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle industries. 

Brigitte has worked extensively with internationally recognized brands, including Ann Taylor, Forever 21, Omorovicza, Shinola, Restoration Hardware and NBA All-Star. 

On the talent relations side, Brigitte worked closely with Meghan Markle playing a vital role in launching two successful capsule collections for Reitmans as well as Meghan’s work with World Vision Canada. 

Brigitte also helped launch NHL player P.K. Subban’s suiting campaigns for Canadian retailer RW&CO.  

Results-driven, Brigitte has cultivated effective relationships with local and national media and influencers securing top-level coverage for clients.  Brigitte’s expertise spans social media programming, event ideation and execution, and influencer relations. 

Communications Strategist

Aliya Jiwan-Thawer

Aliya is an award-winning journalist who spent nearly a decade working as a television and radio news reporter, anchor and producer with the CBC, CTV and CP24 in Edmonton, Ottawa, Halifax and Toronto and gained valuable work experience at the CBC bureau in London, England and at SABC in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Following a successful journalism career, she transitioned into the world of public relations where she worked in large and boutique PR agencies creating and executing public and media relations campaigns in a variety of industries including financial, health, IT, education, childcare, corporate and non-profit sectors.

Over the years, she has successfully launched products and charities, media trained spokespeople, planned and managed fundraising events and positively positioned clients to help raise their profile and drive their bottom line.

Communications Strategist

Kerline Hall

Kerline is driven by her passion for sharing meaningful stories and advancing work with purpose.

Since beginning her career in communications in 2013, she has been fortunate to work with and learn from remarkable leaders across  technology, non-profit, sport, and retail industries, honing her craft as both a consultant and in-house leader.  

Blending her ability to incorporate the art of storytelling with her solid understanding of a company's unique goals and culture, Kerline draws on her cross-sectoral experience and relationships working with companies like Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Adobe, United Way,  SOS Children’s Villages Canada, and the Coaching Association of Canada,  to cultivate creative solutions that stand out and garner results.

Influencer Marketing Manager

Kayla Vaz

Kayla has a strong background in influencer marketing where she has managed talent directly, as well as led integrated campaigns on behalf of brands. She specializes in creating content strategies to maintain brand consistency for top brands, brings expertise and thought leadership on industry trends and best practices for influencer marketing to advertisers across all verticals including key performance metrics, creator content and attribution methodologies across all marketing channels. 

With a keen interest in data and analytics, she thrives when conducing  thorough audits of social and digital media channels to identify new opportunities and areas of improvement.

Communications Advisor /
Event Management

Julie D'Uva

Julie’s background in Sociology ignited her curiosity about human behavior, fueling an expansive career in PR, events, and storytelling. With a keen eye for design and a collaborative spirit, she has brought bold ideas to life for both independent brands and global icons like SoulCycle, NBA All-Star, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

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She thrives on creating memorable experiences and amplifying messages that leave a lasting impact. Working with talent is a special skill—she’s connected personalities like Sir Elton John, Karl Lagerfeld, Cindy Crawford, and Brunello Cucinelli with the media to generate exciting coverage.

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On a personal note, Julie grounds herself with gratitude and is deeply committed to movement and well-being. Now three years cancer-free, she balances her passion for PR with teaching Pilates, bringing the same energy and purpose to both.

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Whether producing an event, pitching a story, or teaching, Julie believes leading with purpose isn’t just important—it’s absolutely essential.

Influencer Marketing Specialist

Adrienne St. Louis

Adrienne got her start in the beauty space, working to identify emerging trends and content creators for Coty Inc. With a creative eye and strong attention to detail, she excels at developing strategic campaigns designed to drive brand awareness and engagement. She is always up to date on trends and passionate about emerging social platforms, bringing a thoughtful approach to ensure brands achieve impactful results in a constantly evolving market.