From Policy Simulations to Real-World Strategy: Filip Prentas’ NPSIA Story
When Filip Prentas immigrated to Canada from Greece at the age of 12, he was leaving behind a country grappling with the aftershocks of a financial crisis. That early exposure to the real-world impacts of global economic policy stuck with him—and eventually inspired his path to NPSIA.
“I wanted to understand the forces that were shaping my life,” he says. “Trade and economics became a natural interest.”
After earning his undergraduate degree in political science and economics at UBC, Filip chose NPSIA’s International Economic Policy (IEP) stream to dig deeper into the world of trade negotiations, global commerce, and policy analysis.
His curiosity led him not only into classrooms, but into the real world. Through NPSIA’s co-op program, he landed a placement at Global Affairs Canada in the Trade Negotiations Branch, where he worked on digital trade policy—an area focused on removing barriers for services and commerce conducted online. “I didn’t expect to end up in digital trade, but I loved it,” he says. “It’s a new and abstract area of trade, and I was lucky to be learning about it right at the frontier.”
Now, Filip is transitioning to a new role within Global Affairs, joining the Trade Commissioner Service to work on science, technology, and innovation partnerships. While he’s excited about the opportunity, he credits his previous team with laying the foundation for his career. “That experience—and the mentorship I received—was instrumental.”
At NPSIA, one formative moment came during a policy simulation hosted by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, where Filip and his classmates presented research to a professional audience. “It was the first time I applied what I’d learned in a real-world setting,” he says. “And the response from industry was incredible—they even asked for a copy of our work.”
Filip is also quick to credit the impact of courses like trade negotiations with Phil Rourke and the trade policy with Professor Meredith Lilly, which he says helped him sharpen his writing, analysis, and real-world application of policy.
“Those courses trained me for exactly the kind of work I’m doing now.”
As he wraps up his degree, Filip is focused on continuing to build his career in international trade and policy—and maybe taking a well-earned trip to Japan. “The last few years have been a whirlwind,” he reflects. “But NPSIA gave me the tools, the network, and the confidence to pursue this path. I’m ready for what’s next.”