Bailey Williams is a 2010 graduate of the Mount Saint Vincent University Bachelor of Public Relations program with a stand-out resume.
Known as a relationship-focused communicator, her career has spanned both the private and public sectors, with a special emphasis on the sport industry. Over more than a decade, she has built expertise in public relations, athlete management, event management, and stakeholder relations.
Bailey spent a significant portion of her early career at Basketball Canada. There she worked in program coordination and communications, before becoming Senior Manager of the Canadian Basketball Foundation and Corporate Relations. She also gained experience at BDA Sports Management.
A strong supporter of women and girls in sport – particularly Black athletes – Bailey has consistently championed representation and equity in the industry. In 2023, she co-founded CentHer Court — a Canadian professional network that centres, connects and celebrates women of colour in sport through inclusive events and experiences, partnering with NBA and WNBA Canada, the Toronto Tempo, Lululemon, Proline+, Adidas and more.
She is also the co-founder (2020) of the Canadian Black Standard, a non-profit networking and advocacy platform created to address systemic barriers to career advancement and the inclusion of Black Canadian women in marketing.
Today, Bailey works with the Innovate Sports Group, supporting some of the NBA’s top talent. She is widely respected as a global citizen in the industry, having contributed to media and player relations for major global sporting events including the Olympics, Pan Am Games and FIBA basketball tournaments on three continents.
Bailey established an award at MSVU with a goal of uplifting and empowering Black women entering the communications profession. The award bears her full name – the Bailey Dinelle Williams Award – because her own name honours both of her grandmothers and she wanted the award to pay similar tribute.
Presented annually to a Black female student entering any degree program within MSVU’s Department of Communication Studies, the award includes both financial support and mentorship from Bailey. She’s also given of her time and talents as a guest speaker in Communication Studies classes at MSVU. Originally from Nova Scotia, Bailey was an exceptional student herself at MSVU; at her convocation, she received the Kappa Gamma Pi award for scholarship, leadership and service, as well as the Senate Award of Distinction for highest aggregate.
MSVU is grateful for Bailey’s leadership, generosity, and lasting contributions.