Policy Spotlight Seminars

In the spring and fall semesters, the School organizes a lunch-hour seminar series called Policy Spotlights. These presentations by inspiring community leaders and executives address important policy issues facing us on a local, national or international scale. A Q&A segment wraps up each Spotlight talk with engaging discussion involving first and second year students, faculty and MPP alumni. Policy Spotlights are held 4-6 times per term.

If you have an idea or recommendation for a Policy Spotlight presenter, email Lindsay Sands at lsands@sfu.ca.

Fall 2021

Fancy Poitras, Indigenous Relations Manager, City of Burnaby and MPP alum
Neil Bouwer, Vice-President of Innovation and Skills Development Branch Canada School of Public Service
Christine Massey, Deputy Minister, BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions 
Graham Stuart, Manager of Corporate Planning, City of Coquitlam  

Spring 2021

Izzah Khan, Policy and Government Relations Analyst at FortisBC
Shiri Pasternak, Assistant Professor at Ryerson University and Research Director of the Yellowhead Institute
CJ Rowe, Director of SFU’s Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Office
Gerry Salembier, former Assistant Deputy Minister for the British Columbia Region at Western Economic Diversification

Fall 2020

Heather Devine, Head, BC Behavioural Insights Group (BC BIG)
Reuben Ford, Research Director, The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation
Ginger Gosnell-Myers, Decolonization and Urban Indigenous Planning Fellow at Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
Anjum Sultana, National Director of Public Policy and Strategic Communications at YWCA Canada

Spring 2020

Felim Donnelly, Founder and Principal of City Smarts
Connor Morris, Manager, Communications and Policy, First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
Don Wright, Deputy Minister to the Premier, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service