Thinking Outside the Tank
The Future of Think Tanks in Canadian Policy
Thinking outside the tank: the future of think tanks in Canadian public policy
Governments rely on outside institutions like think tanks to generate policy ideas, create neutral space for discussion, translate academic knowledge and contribute to democratic oversight. However, Canada has fewer of these institutions than our peers and many of our existing institutions are disappearing. This webinar will discuss the future of public policy think tanks, drawing on research from in-depth interviews and roundtables with more than 60 public servants, political advisors, researchers and think tank leaders.
Speakers:
Noah has spent his career working on a wide range of policy issues with governments at all levels in Canada. Before co-founding Springboard, Noah was the Director of Policy and Research at the Maytree Foundation in Toronto where he led the development and implementation of the organization’s policy strategy, leading to concrete policy changes to reduce poverty in Canada. At the Mowat Centre, a public policy think tank at the University of Toronto, he led the Centre’s largest research stream, developing policy agendas around technology, economic development, fiscal policy and the social safety net. As a public servant, Noah worked in the Cabinet Office for the Ontario government, where he worked on climate change policy and intergovernmental relations. Noah holds an MSc in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and a BA (Joint Hons). in Political Science and International Development from McGill University.
Before co-founding Springboard, Adrienne worked in leadership positions in public policy, supporting decision makers and advocating for change from inside and outside of government. Adrienne was a Chief of Staff to Ministers in the provincial government, providing high level strategic and policy advice, and managing all aspects of communications, policy development and stakeholder relations. She led the development of complex programs, frameworks, and strategies, helping implement impactful policies and substantial capital and program investments. Her work has focused on social services, economic development, labour policy, gender policy. A lawyer, Adrienne has experience in government and on Bay St. She held early career positions at Ontario’s Human Rights Legal Support Centre and the United Nations Development Programme. Adrienne received her JD from Osgoode Hall Law School, her MA in Political Studies from Queen’s University and her Hon. BA in Political Science from the University of Toronto.