The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy

Progressive Dialogue and Policy for a Better Canada

Pearson Centre Announces New Members of the Board of Directors

By

Pearson Centre Announces New Members of the Board of Directors

Today the Pearson Centre, a multi-partisan institute, announced new members who have joined its Board of Directors. “These individuals bring a diversity of experience and expertise to our Board, and we are excited to have them join the leadership team at our organization”, said Kevin Bosch, Chair of the Pearson Centre.

New Members joining the Board are:

  • Michael Pearson: Michael is the grandson of former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson and is a resident of Ottawa. He served in five federal departments throughout his extensive public service career, where he managed international affairs portfolios and led Canada-U.S. bilateral and multilateral negotiations on files such as fisheries and the COVID-19 public health response. Michael is a respected contributor to non-partisan public policy discussion in Canada and a soon-to-be-published author.
  • Zita Astravas: Zita is a public affairs professional with over 15 years serving in senior government and media relations roles at both the federal and provincial levels. She served in a number of senior leadership roles in government, including as Director of Issues Management and senior Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Chief of Staff to the President of the King’s Privy Council and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, the Minister of Public Safety, and the Minister of National Defence. She also served in numerous leadership roles under former Liberal Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne. Zita currently resides in Vancouver working with Wellington Advocacy.
  • Kate Dalgleish: Kate started her career as a litigator at a national law firm, then followed her passion for public policy and politics into government relations, working in Ottawa, Alberta, and British Columbia. Her focus on political strategy, communications, and regulatory compliance has given her the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of industries, including transport, infrastructure, and healthcare. She was deeply involved in Canada’s legalization of cannabis, focusing on solving interjurisdictional, safety, and regulatory issues with the new industry. Kate is currently the Director of Public Affairs at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations across Canada. Kate’s advocacy and policy work at CIJA focuses on combating hate, improving community security, and strengthening social services. She has been involved in a volunteer capacity with several poverty-reduction groups, including Calgary Legal Guidance, Our Place Society in Victoria, and previously sat on the board of Ottawa’s Youth Services Bureau Foundation.
  • Chief Jeffrey Copenace: Chief Copenace is Anishinaabe from the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation in Treaty #3 Territory, in northwestern Ontario. He was elected Chief in August of 2021. Chief Copenace is a former advisor to Canadian Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin and a former Deputy Chief of Staff to Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo. Chief Copenace also formerly worked for Minister of Indigenous Services, the Honourable Jane Philpott, and also spent time working at Justice Canada in the Reconciliation Secretariat. Lastly, he is proudly 8 years sober and is an advocate for healing and wellness.
  • Michael Hatch: Michael is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, and he has a degree in Economics from the University of Toronto. He is currently the Vice President of Government Relations at the Canadian Credit Union Association. Prior to joining CCUA in 2018, Michael spent a decade at a government relations consulting firm working primarily for national associations. During that time, he also served as chief economist to a large retail trade association, and was their national media spokesperson as well, conducting well over 2,000 media interviews in all formats over ten years. Michael also worked on Parliament Hill for three years as an economic policy advisor.
  • Donald Abelson, PhD: Donald is Faculty of Social Sciences Professor of Canada US Relations, and Professor, Political Science, at McMaster University. His career has focused on American politics, US Foreign Policy, and Canada-US Relations, and is widely recognized as a leading authority on the study of public policy research centres. From 2019-2023, Dr. Abelson served as the inaugural Director of the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government, the Steven K. Hudson Chair in Canada-US Relations, and Professor, Political Science, St. Francis Xavier University. He also served in various administrative and research capacities at Western University for 25 years. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, he is a regular commentator on CBC Radio and other media outlets where he discusses current developments in American politics and Canada-U.S. relations. He is the author of over a dozen books including Understanding American Politics, Third Edition, (with Stephen Brooks and Melissa Haussman, University of Toronto Press, 2024); and History Has Made Us Friends: Rethinking the ‘Special Relationship’ between Canada and the United States, (co-edited with Stephen Brooks, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2024); Do Think Tanks Matter? Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes, Third Edition (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2018); and A Capitol Idea: Think Tanks & US Foreign Policy (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2006). He is currently writing the Second Edition of Northern Lights: Exploring Canada’s Think Tank Landscape and Understanding Think Tanks: Mind Games, Public Policy, and the Competition for Ideas (Edward Elgar).

The Board, with Kevin Bosch as Chair, is currently comprised of Dr. Karen Mock, Immediate Past President; Vice-Chairs Indira Naidoo-Harris and Jonathan Calof; Secretary-Treasurer Carl Nicholson; and Members Russell Gibson, Kathryn Kotris and Louis-Alexandre Lanthier.

For more information please contact: