Matthew Mendelsohn

Matthew Mendelsohn is a strategic advisor, public policy entrepreneur, board director and educator. He works at the intersection of strategy, policy, implementation and impact, and supports organizations that advance democratic, economic and social inclusion. He is currently a Visiting Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University.

He has served as a Deputy Minister in the federal and Ontario governments, leading democratic reform, intergovernmental affairs, public sector transformation and digital governance initiatives. As Deputy Minister for Democratic Renewal, he co-designed Ontario’s Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. He was the founding Director of the Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto, a public policy think tank. Previously, he was a tenured professor in the Department of Political Studies at Queen’s University and has a B.A. from McGill University and a Ph.D. from l’Université de Montréal.

An active volunteer board member throughout his career, he now spends his time working on democratic resilience, community economic development, governance, institution-building, social impact – and playing any sport that his body can handle. He lives in Toronto with his wife, children, and schnoodle.

Sessions #DXC23

• Democracy Futures Opening Plenary on Trust in Governance

• Lunchtime Workshop: Understanding the Authoritarian Playbook

• Panel Moderator: Democratic Backsliding - An International Outlook