Catherine Despatie

Program Lead, PPF Academy (Interim)

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Catherine Despatie is a proud Franco-Ontarian who brings to PPF her experiences in public policy, international affairs, and program management.

As part of the Parliamentary Internship Programme’s 2023-2024 cohort, Catherine completed placements with Members of Parliament from both government and opposition parties, gaining an in-depth understanding of Canadian public policy from a non-partisan perspective.

Driven by her interest in global issues and diplomacy, Catherine pursued an internship at the Canadian Embassy to Spain, working behind the scenes of the Madrid 2022 NATO Summit and fine-tuning her Spanish language abilities. She also brings knowledge of the Canadian non-profit sector through her prior work at Fairtrade Canada.

Catherine holds a bachelor’s degree in global development studies from Queen’s University, and a master of global affairs from the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto.

She joined PPF in 2024.