Founded by Kathy Bunka, career diplomat and former Canadian Ambassador, Dispatch House is an advisory, reporting and coaching service provider. We offer practical, hands-on support for those entering Government of Canada and Foreign Service competitions.
I’m Kathy Bunka, a writer and former Canadian diplomat. Over a 30-year career as a rotational Foreign Service Officer, I represented Canada in places as varied as the United Nations in New York, Ghana and Togo, the Palestinian Territories, UNESCO in Paris, Slovakia and Iraq, where I served as Ambassador.
Today, I bring that experience to reporting, writing and coaching. As the first member of my family to join Canada’s public service, I know how unfamiliar the hiring process can seem. I offer practical guidance and hands-on support to help applicants understand the process, identify their strengths and communicate their experience clearly—whether they are seeking a role in the federal government or Canada’s diplomatic service.
My education took me to McGill and Harvard; my career took me around the world. Dispatch House brings those perspectives together, grounded in curiosity about people and places and an understanding of how government works.
Individual coaching for Government of Canada applicants, informed by three decades of experience in the federal public service and diplomacy.
Discuss your Government of Canada career goals and whether this coaching is a good fit for you. This introductory conversation does not include detailed coaching.
Request an initial consultation ↗A candid assessment, a competition roadmap and tailored priorities for your preparation.
Enquire about a session ↗Renewable at $1,500 for another package of support.
Discuss the core package ↗Travel, lifestyle, foreign affairs and the stories behind the headlines.
Diplomatic Dispatches from Abroad
A life in diplomacy, told through the people, places and encounters along the way.
Drawing on three decades representing Canada, this memoir travels from the United Nations in New York, to East and West Africa, the Middle East, Slovakia and Iraq where I served as Canadian Ambassador.
More about the book, including publication news and excerpts, will appear here.
Enquire about the book ↗Navigate Government of Canada hiring processes with practical guidance, candid feedback and focused preparation—from your résumé and screening questions to assessments, interviews and simulation exercises.
Review the hiring process, the position’s requirements and the stages of assessment. Identify your priorities and build a preparation plan tailored to the competition.
Receive feedback on your résumé and guidance on drafting responses to screening questions. Choose concrete examples that clearly demonstrate how your experience meets the stated criteria.
Prepare for standard government assessment methods, interviews and simulation exercises. Practise explaining your judgment, skills and achievements, with candid feedback and structured homework.
People applying for Government of Canada positions, including foreign service roles, or preparing for a government selection process. The initial consultation helps establish whether the support fits your needs.
The 15-minute fit consultation is free and does not include detailed coaching. A single 60-minute strategy session is $250. The Core Government Competition Package is $1,500 for five 60-minute sessions and the support described above, and can be renewed at $1,500. Prices are in Canadian dollars.
Dispatch House is an independent business. Coaching draws on Kathy’s professional experience; it does not provide privileged access to hiring processes or guarantee a selection outcome.
Email Kathy with your publication, story idea or brief, desired length and deadline. You can discuss the angle, scope and fee directly.