Allen Sutherland
Adjunct Professor
Mr. Allen Sutherland was appointed as President and CEO of the Institute on Governance (IOG) as of June 23, 2025. In this role he provides strategic direction and day-to-day leadership for IOG鈥檚 operations. Prior to that, he was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Machinery of Government, within the Government of Canada鈥檚 Privy Council Office in May 2014. Additional duties for Democratic Institutions were added in September 2016. He provided advice to Prime Ministers Harper, Trudeau and Carney on the structure and organization of government, including the Cabinet decision making process, relations with the King and Governor General, the interpretation and application of the constitutional principles and conventions that underpin responsible government, protecting democracy from mis and disinformation, the effective functioning of democratic institutions, and the roles and responsibilities of ministers.
Prior to this appointment, he was the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Learning Branch, Employment and Skills Development Canada (ESDC). He also served in other positions within ESDC, including Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy and Research Branch, and, within the same Branch, as Director General, Labour Market Policy, and Director General, Strategy and Integration.
Mr. Sutherland worked in the Canadian federal public service for over 25 years. As a public servant, Mr. Sutherland has held policy, planning and research positions in the Privy Council Office, the Policy Research Initiative, the Department of Global Affairs, and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
He holds degrees from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (MPP) and Queen鈥檚 University (BA Hon).