David Watters worked for 30 years in the Canadian Federal Public Service in a variety of Economic Ministries, including a dozen years as an Assistant Deputy Minister in Industry Canada, Treasury Board Canada, and Finance Canada, where he was responsible for overseeing Canada's Economic Development and Corporate FInance policies, and shaping economic an dinnovation investment in federal budgets.
In 2002 David founded and lead the Global Advantage Consulting Group Inc. (Ottawa) for 20 years in proving advice to corporate, association, academic, and government clients across Canada and abroad. He sold the firm to employees in 203 and is currently a Strategic Advisor to its board.
The firm completed over 900 contracts for clients specializing in analyzing and mapping complex public policy economic systems creating collaborative business models for service delivery; aligning operational processes among networked organizations for enhanced decision-making; and designing growth strategies for organizations, particularly in the areas of research and technology development, innovation, commercialization and trade.
David founded the Institute for Collaborative Innovation in 2008, and is its current President.
David holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Queen's University, as well as a Law degree in corporate, commercial, and tax law from Queen's University Law School. He was also an adjunct Professor for seven years at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, teaching International Negotiation to MBA students.