David Gillies

Dr. David Gillies is an independent researcher in international human rights, democracy support and good governance. His research interests are in democracy and foreign policy, and democratic governance in fragile and conflict-affected states.  He has regional expertise in South Asia and Eastern and Southern Africa.  Retired from Global Affairs Canada, Dr. Gillies was also a governance specialist at the former Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).  He was CIDA Head of Cooperation in Zimbabwe and Counsellor, Development for Global Affairs Canada in Pakistan.  Outside the public service, Dr. Gillies has worked at Rights and Democracy, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the North-South Institute.

His publications include Elections in Dangerous Places (editor) and Between Principle and Practice: Human Rights in North-South Relations.  He is currently co-editor of the 2022 Canada Among Nations edition on Democracy and Foreign Policy in an Era of Uncertainty, Palgrave Macmillan forthcoming. A dual Canadian and British citizen, Dr. Gillies was educated at Oxford and McGill.