Robert Shepherd

– Honours BA in Politics and Business Administration (Brock University, Canada)
– MA in Public Policy and Administration (Carleton University, Canada)
– MBA (University of Ottawa, Canada)
– PhD in Political Science and Public Administration (University of Toronto, Canada)

Robert’s research spans public management and governmental reform, Indigenous public management, ethics, and policy and program evaluation. He is interested in how public accountability and oversight systems intersects to improve overall public management and governance systems. In addition, his research extends to understanding how governmental program evaluation functions can improve public policy and decision-making. Improving ethics in government also contributes to governmental legitimacy and democracy.

My research focuses on the interplay between ethics in government, oversight and public confidence. Building on the thoughts of Jeremy Bentham, I believe that systems that enhance transparency in decision-making make governments and their concomitant systems behave and work as they were intended. Making governments accountable means building a public service culture of integrity, service, and the willingness to provide forthright advice to elected leaders. My research into areas of ethics in public management, accountability, governance reform and program evaluation come together in various ways, including ultimately building a public service culture of honesty and integrity. Recent reform efforts in areas such as performance measurement, deliverology, evaluation, and audit provide fertile ground for studying how these oversight systems can make a difference to improving public confidence in government. 

• Lindquist, Evert A. and Robert P. Shepherd. 2023. “Spending Reviews and the Government of Canada: From episodic to institutionalized capabilities and repertoires,” Canadian Public Administration, 66(2). 247-267.
• Shepherd, Robert. 2022. “Internal governmental performance and accountability in Canada: Insights and lessons for post-pandemic improvement,” Canadian Public Administration, 65(3), 516-537.
• Shepherd, Robert and Treena Orchard. 2022. “We cause a ruckus”: Exploring How Indigenous Youth Navigate the Challenges of Community Engagement and Leadership. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9542.
• Brock, Kathy and Robert Shepherd. 2022. “The Trudeau Government and GIC Appointments in Canada,” International Journal of Public Sector Management, 35(4), 463-479.
• Savard, Jean-Francois and Isabelle Caron, Kathy Brock and Robert Shepherd“Teaching Public Administration in the COVID‐19 Era: Preliminary Lessons Learned.” Canadian Public Administration. 63(3): pp. 528–533 (September 2020)  Wiley-Blackwell.
• Shepherd, Robert. & Katherine Graham. “Identifying Key Epistemological Challenges Evaluating in Indigenous Contexts: Achieving Bimaadiziwin through Youth Futures.” Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 34(3): pp.442-463 (March 2020) University of Toronto Press.
• Shepherd, Robert Patrick. “Reflections on Evaluating in Indigenous Contexts: Looking to the Future.” Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 34(3): p.513 (March 2020) University of Toronto Press.
• James McDavid, Robert Shepherd, and Sahara Morin. “Reflections on Inter-University Collaboration to Deliver an Graduate Certificate in Evaluation to Government of the Northwest Territories Employees.” Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation.  35(1): p. 104 (April 2020) University of Toronto Press.
• McDavid, Jim et al. “Linking Evaluation and Spending Reviews: Challenges and Prospects.” Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation.  32(3): p. 297 (April 2018) University of Toronto Press.
• Shepherd, Robert P. “Expenditure Reviews and the Federal Experience: Program Evaluation and Its Contribution to Assurance Provision.” Canadian Journal of Program Ealuation.  32(3): p. 347 (April 2018) University of Toronto Press.
• Pross, A. Paul, and Robert P Shepherd. “Innovation Diffusion and Networking: Canada’s Evolving Approach to Lobbying Regulation: Lobby Legislation And Regulation In Canada.” Canadian Public Administration.  60(2): pp. 153-172 (June 2017). Wiley-Blackwell Full Collection – CRKN.
• Shepherd, Robert. “In Search of a Balanced Evaluation Function: Getting to Relevance.” Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 26(2): pp. 1-47 (Fall 2011) University of Toronto Press.
• Shepherd, R. “Departmental audit committees and governance: Making management and accountabilitythe priority from the top down.”  Canadian Public Administration. 54(2): pp. 277-304 (June 2011) Wiley-Blackwell.
• Shepherd, Robert and Diabo, Russell. “A Government-First Nations Dialogue on Accountability: Re-establishing Understanding on the Basics of a Complex Relationship” Native Studies Review. 15(2): pp. 61–82 (2004) University of Saskatchewan  
• Shepherd, R. P. “The Citizens’ Forum: a case study in public consultation.” Optimum. 23(4): pp. 18-27 (March 1993) Ottawa – Ontario : Consulting and Audit Canada. ISSN: 0475-1906 

• Shepherd, Robert, Diane Simsovic and Alan Latourelle. “Canada’s National Parks.” In Howlett, Michael and Evert Lindquist, Grace Skogstad, Genevieve Tellier, Paul ‘t Hart, Successful Public Policy: Lessons from Canada. Oxford University Press. Winter 2021-22. Forthcoming
• Shepherd, Robert, Diane Simsovic and Alan Latourelle. “Canada’s National Parks.” In Howlett, Michael and Evert Lindquist, Grace Skogstad, Genevieve Tellier, Paul ‘t Hart, Successful Public Policy: Lessons from Canada. Oxford University Press. Winter 2021-22.
• Shepherd, Robert. 2018. “You Got to Know When to Hold ‘Em: An Evaluation that went from Bad to Worse.” In Kylie Hutchinson (ed.). Evaluation Failures: 22 Tales of Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned. Toronto: Sage, 77-82.
• Shepherd, Robert. 2018. “Indigenous Peoples and the Reconciliation Agenda: Funding, Accountability and Risk.” In Christopher Dunn (ed.). The Handbook of Canadian Public
• Shepherd, Robert and Christopher Stoney. 2018. “Policy Analysis in the Federal Government: Conditions and Renewal Initiatives in the Trudeau Era.” In Laurent Dobuzinskis and Michael
• Shepherd, Robert and Bryan Evans. 2017. “The Intersections of Public Policy and Political Communications: Insights from Federal Public Service Elites.” In Alex Marland, Thierry Giasson and Andrea Lawlor (Eds.), Political Elites in Canada: Power and Influence in Instantaneous Times. Vancouver: UBC Press.
• Honest Politics Now: What Ethical Conduct Means in Canadian Public Life. Ian Greene and David Shugarman (Eds.). Toronto: Lorimer, 2017. Principal author for two chapters, and co- author for five of 11 chapters.
• Shepherd, Robert. 2016. “The Program Evaluation Function: Uncertain Governance and Effects.” In Thomas Klassen, et. al. (Eds.), Handbook of Global Public Policy and Administration. New York: Routledge, 335-45.
• Shepherd, Robert P. and Christopher Stoney, Lori Turnbull. 2016. “The Changing Nature of the Relationship Between Public Servants and Ministers.” In Thomas Klassen, et. al., (Eds.), Handbook of Global Public Policy and Administration. New York: Routledge, 271-79.
• Shepherd, Robert. 2013. “How Ottawa Controls: Harper Era Strategic Reviews in the Context of the 1993-1996 Liberal Program Review.” In G. Bruce Doern and Christopher Stoney (eds.), How Ottawa Spends 2013/2014. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press. Ch. 8.
• Shepherd, Robert. 2011. “Do institutions responsible for parliamentary oversight offer better tools for scrutinizing and improving governance? The Affirmative Proposition.” In Leone, Robert and Frank Ohemeng (eds.). Approaching Public Administration: Core Debates and Emerging Issues. Toronto: Edmund Montgomery Publications, 163-74.
• Shepherd, Robert. 2010. “Accountability and First Nations in Canada.” In Christopher Dunn (ed.). Handbook of Canadian Public Management, 2nd Edition. Toronto: Nelson, 330-49.
• Shepherd, Robert. 2009. “Evaluating The Rationale Of The New Federal Lobbying Act: Making Lobbying Transparent Or Regulating The Industry?” In Allan Maslove (ed.), How Ottawa Spends 2009/2010: Economic Upheaval and Political Dysfunction. Montreal and Kingston: McGill- Queen’s University Press, 115-50.
• Shepherd, Robert and Anne Perkins. 2001. “Managing in the New Public Service: Some Implications for How We Are Governed.” In Leslie A. Pal (ed.), How Ottawa Spends 2001-2002: Power in Transition. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 95-122.
• Paquet, Gilles and Robert Shepherd. 1996. “The Program Review Process: A Deconstruction.” In Gene Swimmer (ed.), How Ottawa Spends 1996/97, Life Under the Knife. Ottawa: Carleton University Press, 39-74.

• ‘Cannot do more with less’: Academics say new enforcement power, funding necessary to make Conservatives’ proposed lobbying policies effective (Lobby Monitor, Aug 2021)
• Robert Shepherd speaks to the Globe and Mail about Carleton’s Diploma in Public Policy and Program Evaluation. (Carleton Newsroom, Nov 2019)
• First female foreign affairs DM among several women promoted in latest civil service shuffle (Hill Times, Jul 2019)
• First female foreign affairs DM among several women promoted in latest civil service shuffle (Hill Times, May 2019)
• Ottawa must talk to Canadians about nation-to-nation agenda (Policy Options, Oct 2018)
• Phoenix business case doomed from start, experts say (CBC, Oct 2017)
• Interest in public service jobs has increased since Trudeau’s election (Macleans, Dec 2016)
• Public policy schools across Canada buoyed by Liberal ‘sunny ways’ (CBC, May 2016)
• Public Policy Education Thriving (FPA News, May 2016)
• Whistleblower guide aims to help employers develop ‘speak up’ culture (CBC, Mar 2016)
• Ban Trudeau from Harkat deportation over brother’s letter, says democracy group (CBC, Mar 2016)
• Harperman case: Can public servants be political activists? (CBC, Aug 2015)
• Taxpayers gave Ford $140,000 per job – but deal’s details are secret (Global News, Oct 2014)
• Kenney’s department spent $745K tracking his ethnic press (CBC, Nov 2012)