Rita Koutsodimos

Rita Koutsodimos

For the past fifteen years, Rita Koutsodimos has worked in the non-profit sector to make our communities healthier for all. She specializes in health promotion, chronic disease prevention, social determinants of health, health inequities and healthy built environments.

Since 2006, Rita has worked for the BC Healthy Living Alliance Secretariat where she is the lead for policy development, advocacy and communications strategy.
Using a government relations approach to advocacy, Rita has developed agendas and key messages for meetings with provincial Ministers, deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers, standing and caucus committees, as well as leaders of the opposition. She has authored many policy papers and also advanced healthy public policy at the federal and local levels of government.
Rita has played a role in bringing about numerous health-promoting policies which she happily credits to good research, persuasive communications, collaboration and persistence.

An enthusiastic communicator, Rita enjoys getting people together to discuss pressing issues, proven or promising solutions and new ideas. She is a regular blogger and has organized dialogues, community events, webinars and campaigns.
In addition to her experience developing communication frameworks and managing the brand of a multi-partner alliance, Rita’s track record of successful media relations includes stories on the front page of the Vancouver Sun, on opinion pages, the 5:00 o’clock news and the radio.

Earlier in her career, Rita actively promoted solutions to climate change related to the design of our cities and transportation systems. She believes that many elements of communities that make them environmentally sustainable also make them good for our physical health and emotional well-being.