About Us

Policy Horizons Canada (Policy Horizons)

Policy Horizons Canada is the Government of Canada’s centre of excellence in foresight. We empower the Government of Canada with a future-oriented mindset and outlook to strengthen decision making.

We produce content that may attract academic, public, and international attention, and do not publish commentary on policy decisions of the Government.

Governance

Director General

Kristel Van der Elst

Kristel is the Director General at Policy Horizons Canada, Government of Canada. She is former Head of Strategic Foresight at the World Economic Forum. Kristel holds 3 Masters including an MBA from the Yale School of Management. She is a Fulbright Scholar and a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar.

 

Director

Simon Robertson

Simon is a Director at Policy Horizons Canada, overseeing the organization’s foresight partnerships and research groups. He was previously a director of policy and senior political advisor, and a lawyer at a major Canadian law firm. Simon holds a law degree, and a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge.

 

Director

Suesan Danesh

Suesan is a Director at Policy Horizons Canada. She previously led the Foresight Networks, Learning and Events team. She has change and innovation expertise, as well as engagement, communications, facilitation and training, and impact assessment experience. Her over 10 years in public sector transformation gives her a strong understanding of change and its impacts from a systems perspective. She holds a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation, considers herself insatiably curious, and loves learning.

 

Policy Horizons reports through the Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.

The Deputy Minister Steering Committee provides oversight, direction, and guidance to the organization. It is co-chaired by Paul Thompson, Deputy Minister of ESDC and Mollie Johnson, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), Privy Council Office. Its members include:

  • Catherine Beaudry, Polytechnique Montréal
  • Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Justice Canada
  • Chris Forbes, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
  • Valerie Gideon, Indigenous Services Canada and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
  • Melanie Goodchild, Algoma University
  • Simon Kennedy, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
  • Stephen Lucas, Health Canada
  • Christopher MacLennan, Global Affairs Canada
  • John W. McArthur, Brookings Institution
  • Isabelle Mondou, Heritage Canada
  • Jean-François Tremblay, Deputy Minister, Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Michael Vandergrift, Natural Resources Canada
  • Caroline Xavier, Chief, Communications Security Establishment