David Zussman

David Zussman is an Honourary Senior Fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa and President Emeritus of the Public Policy Forum (PPF). 

Over the years, David has held a number of different academic positions at the University of Ottawa. Notably, he held the Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management, Dean of the Telfer School of Management and Director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. 

David has also worked in several private sector positions. He has been President of the Public Policy Forum, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of EKOS Research Associates, and Research Advisor (Public Sector) to Deloitte Canada. 

David Zussman served in the federal government in a number of different capacities which included as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Machinery of Government and Program Review in the Privy Council Office, the Treasury Board Secretariat and Statistics Canada.  Moreover, he was responsible for the transition of the three-time elected Chrétien governments. 

Dr. Zussman is the author and co-author of many book chapters, refereed articles, publications and books, including Off and Running: The Prospects and Pitfalls of Government Transitions in Canada, Alternate Service Delivery: Sharing Governance in Canada and The Vertical Solitude: Managing in the Public Service.  

David is a member of or has recently completed his term on a number of Canadian public sector and not for profit boards. For example, he served for seven years as Commissioner of the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) and chaired the Board of Governors of the University of Victoria, and The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. He has also served on many boards of directors including of The Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada, The Public Policy Forum, and Imagine Canada. 

David is the recipient of the Order of Canada and the Vanier Medal.