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David Donovan (2007 - 2008)

Canada

David Donovan

The greatest benefit of the Sauvé program is the ability to create lasting interpersonal relationships and friendships, both with the executive and among the Scholars themselves. I made several life-long friendships in the short time spent living with a group of amazing Scholars in a gorgeous mansion in Montreal.

David is committed to the civic engagement of younger Canadians, believing that engaged and motivated young people can play an important role in the political process if they are given the proper tools and support.

Currently a public policy consultant in Ottawa, David is the former research director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Queen’s.  He has published a number of articles relating to the international promotion of democracy, and on democratic and Parliamentary reform in Canada.  He has also presented his views on democratic governance before a number of Parliamentary Committees and international conferences.

From Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada, David graduated with a BA (Honours with Distinction) in Political Studies and Master’s in Public Administration from Queen’s University.  He received several awards including:  an undergraduate scholarship for excellence in English, Queen’s University Graduate Award Scholarship, and the Dean’s Honour’s List.  Many of his references stressed his academic success and his theoretical, critical and nuanced mind.

David’s project as a Sauvé Scholar was to research, write and present on a number of public policy issues in democratic governance (see links below) and he believes that the Program assisted and enhanced his projects through: 

  • Unstructured time that encouraged reflection and permitted a significant amount of research.
  • The insight and advice of experts, both as speakers in Sauvé House as well as at McGill, who provided a different perspective on issues he was tackling. In terms of professional development, David benefited greatly from the assistance of the executive director and the board of the Sauvé program.
  • Exchanging ideas with his fellow Scholars, peer reviews of papers, and late-night debates over public policy issues to sharpen his own views and produce better work.
Links

“Leaders must dream of changing the world.

They must have an inspired vision of the changes they want to make and be prepared to consecrate all
their energy to that purpose. A capacity to communicate their objectives is indispensable to sustain
the enthusiasm of their collaborators and their perseverance in action.”
— The Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé, Opening Speech to the National Conference for Young Leaders, June 2-8, 1991