Judy Meltzer, the Director General of the Carbon Markets Bureau at Environment and Climate Change Canada, found her path to public service through Carleton’s Institute of Political Economy.
As a direct result of her PhD in political science with a specialization in political economy, Meltzer was given the opportunity to apply for, and was accepted to, the Government of Canada’s Recruitment of Policy Leaders program.
“Without that degree, I wouldn’t have been able to get into that program. I wouldn’t have been able to get into the federal government in that role or at that level,” she explains.
For Meltzer, the cutting-edge contemporary approaches and expert faculty members of Carleton’s Institute of Political Economy made the program unique and provided a valuable foundation for her work in strategic policy.
“I would say the background in political economy is really directly relevant for all kinds of policy work because policy work is underpinned by socio-economic analysis regardless of the topic you look at,” she says.
“Political economy is a degree that gives you the tools to really be able to have a broad and informed understanding of a wide range of issues.”
Meltzer says that the skills she gained conducting her PhD research are invaluable to her current work on climate change. “Problem solving, critical thinking and the ability to critically analyze, read and write are all important for a successful policy role in the public service,” she notes.
Now, Meltzer now works to develop and implement federal climate change policies and regulations, including carbon pricing, Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System and clean fuels regulations. She has also testified before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.
Monday, January 8, 2024 in Alumni Profile, Department of Political Science, News
Share: Twitter, Facebook
