January 26, 2017
TORONTO – The University of Toronto’s School of Public Policy and Governance (SPPG) today announced the appointment of Andrew Parkin as the new Director of the Mowat Centre.
“We’re very fortunate to have recruited Dr. Parkin as the next Mowat Centre Director,” said SPPG Director, Peter Loewen. “In a very short time, Mowat has established itself as one of Canada’s most important applied public policy research institutions and Dr. Parkin’s background and experience are the perfect complement to that. I think that under his leadership, Mowat’s influence on policy innovation and contributions to public debates in Ontario and Canada will grow considerably.”
Dr. Parkin is a recognized voice in advancing evidence-based policymaking and connecting policy research and public dialogue. He is a senior leadership professional and seasoned public policy expert in a diverse array of policy areas, including education and skills development, federalism, social and economic policy and public opinion research. He has held a variety of senior positions including Director General of the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC), Associate Executive Director and Director of Research and Program Development at the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, and Co-Director of the Centre for Research and Information on Canada.
“The pace of change around us is accelerating, and the challenges facing Canada’s governments at all levels will need rapid and innovative policy responses,” said Parkin. “Mowat’s focus on evidence-informed policymaking is more necessary than ever.”
“Whether it’s evaluating the effectiveness of current programs and institutions in a 21st century context, or helping governments confront economic headwinds, demographic trends and new technologies, Mowat’s independence and its unconventional and forward-facing approach to policy research can provide Ontario and Canada with a unique lens on some of our toughest policy challenges,” said Parkin.
Dr. Parkin will officially take up the position as Mowat Centre Director on March 1, 2017.
About Andrew Parkin
Andrew Parkin has devoted his career to advancing evidence-based policy making, bringing diverse interests together, and bridging the gap between policy research and public dialogue in order to lead and inform non-partisan debate about the issues shaping Canada’s future.
In recent years, Andrew has served as an independent public policy analyst and consultant, providing strategic advice, issue analysis and policy research to a variety of national and international clients in the areas of education and skills development, social and economic policy and public opinion research. He has previously held a variety of senior positions including Director General of the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC), Associate Executive Director and Director of Research and Program Development at the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, and Co-Director of the Centre for Research and Information on Canada.
A political sociologist by background, he completed his post-doctorate at Dalhousie University, his Ph.D. at the University of Bradford (U.K.), and his B.A. (Honours) at Queen’s University. He has received several academic honours, including a Commonwealth Scholarship and a Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship, and has authored or co-authored numerous publications on Canadian public policy.
Andrew has convened, informed and led national and international discussions on a wide range of public policy issues and acted as an authoritative public spokesperson on education, federalism and the Canadian political community in both official languages. He is the author most recently of Family Savings for Post-Secondary Education, published by the Omega Foundation; of the International Report Card on Public Education: Key Facts on Canadian Achievement and Equity, published by the Environics Institute for Survey Research; and of Underperforming Adults? The Paradox of Skills Development in Canada, published by the C.D. Howe Institute.
