#WeLeadComms: Nikisha Toppin

Today’s #WeLeadComms honors go to Barbados-based communication leader Nikisha Toppin.

Nikisha is a corporate communications consultant experienced in developing strategic, stakeholder engagement messaging across the Caribbean and internationally.

Her portfolio spans work with leading multilateral and development institutions, including the European Union, FAO, UNIDO, IDB, and the OECS, where she has consistently translated complex policy agendas into clear, compelling narratives that drive awareness, participation, and impact.

Through her consultancy work under Services Marketing NT, Nikisha brings a disciplined, results-oriented approach to visibility, reputation management, and public diplomacy. Her work has supported initiatives in climate resilience, sustainable energy, data for decision-making, and quality infrastructure, often across diverse stakeholder groups and cultural contexts.

Alongside her consulting work, Nikisha is the founder of Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet, a social enterprise that merges creativity with community empowerment and environmental awareness. Through this platform, she has led regional initiatives such as Crochet for a Cause: Ridge to Reef, spanning multiple Caribbean countries. What began as a creative practice evolved into a strategic communications tool, engaging communities, attracting media attention, and fostering partnerships with governments, NGOs, and cultural institutions.

At the IABC World Conference, Nikisha will present Communications and Crochet: Live in Your Niche. Her session explores how non-traditional, tactile approaches like crochet can be leveraged to rethink conventional communications strategies.

By integrating storytelling and participatory engagement, she demonstrates how creative methodologies can strengthen message retention, deepen stakeholder connection, and expand the reach of advocacy campaigns.

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#WeLeadComms is a partnership between IABC and Strategic.

The communicator’s role is evolving, and #IABC26 is where we’ll explore what’s next.

Join a global network of communication professionals 14-16 June in Toronto for practical insights, peer learning, and new ideas you can take back to your organization. https://wc.iabc.com/.