Open to opportunities

Clare O'Brien

@clareobrien

Message

I coordinate publishing, awards, and event experiences for clients and audiences.

Canada

Message

What I'm looking for

I'm looking to bring my experience coordinating publishing, awards, and live-event workflows to a role where I can support clients, collaborate across teams, and deliver polished audience-facing experiences.

At TIFF: The Market, I serve as the main contact for more than 80 exhibitors, coordinating with sales, event production, and accreditation teams to support a premium client experience before and onsite at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

I create and copyedit client communications, manage exhibition floor-plan documents and workflows, and lead Zone Captains and production assistants on the exhibitor floor.

Previously at Brunico Communications, I led awards programs including Kidscreen Awards, Marketing Awards, Agency of the Year Awards, and Strategy Awards. I guided clients through submissions, supported editorial copyediting and proofreading, managed trophy vendors, and maintained workback schedules across editorial and event teams.

I'm also a publishing contributor and former Writing Director at Glaze Zine, where I led more than 20 writers, selected and copyedited work for publication, and collaborated with visual teams to align written and visual storytelling.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Exhibition Sales Coordinator

TIFF: The Market

Jun 2026 - Sep 2026 (3 months)

Acted as main point of contact for over 80 signed exhibitors, liaising with Sales, Event Production, and Accreditation teams to provide premium client experience before event and onsite at Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Created and copyedited templates for client communications and managed exhibition floor plan documents and workflow.

Client Communication Copy Editing Event Coordination Project Management Spreadsheets Team Leadership

Senior Awards Coordinator

Brunico Communications

Oct 2021 - Apr 2026 (4 years 6 months)

Team lead for Kidscreen Awards, Marketing Awards, Agency of the Year Awards, and Strategy Awards. Assisted editorial teams with copyediting and proofreading, guided clients through entry process, managed vendor relationships, and developed project workback schedules on Google Workplace.

Copy Editing Proofreading Client Relations Vendor Management Project Scheduling Google Workplace Team Leadership

Writing Director

Glaze Zine

Jan 2021 - May 2023 (2 years 4 months)

Led team of over 20 writers in biweekly workshops and one-on-one office hours sessions. Selected and copyedited pieces for publication, contributed original poetry and prose, and liaised with other team members to ensure consistency between written and visual aspects.

Team Leadership Copy Editing Writing Poetry Prose Workshop Facilitation Collaboration

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

New York University

Post-Graduate Certificate, Publishing

Grade: 4.0 GPA

Activities and societies: Received Best Audience Engagement Award for digital indie music zine 'Ripple Effect'.

Post-Graduate Certificate in Publishing from New York University in 2023. Received Best Audience Engagement Award for the digital indie music zine 'Ripple Effect'.

University of Toronto

Bachelor of Arts, American Studies

2015 - 2020

Grade: 3.8 GPA

Activities and societies: Wrote and copyedited for five campus publications, including the Hart House Review.

Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the University of Toronto, Trinity College, from 2015 to 2020. Graduated with High Distinction and received the Distinguished Student Engagement Award.