On November 12, Governing Council’s Agenda Committee approved Michael Sabia’s appointment as Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, effective February 2020. Sabia will replace interim director Randall Hansen and serve in this role until 2024.
The Agenda Committee is a division of the Academic Board, one of three Governing Council boards at U of T, which “approves academic administrative appointments.”
Sabia earned his bachelor’s degree in political economy from U of T.
He currently serves as the president and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), which is Canada’s second largest pension fund. Sabia has served in this role since 2009.
Based in Québec, CDPQ’s assets under management have grown to over $325 billion, from $120 billion under Sabia’s leadership.
While his official mandate at CDPQ ends on March 31, 2021, he is leaving the company one year earlier than anticipated to join the Munk School.
U of T President Meric Gertler told The Globe and Mail that U of T was looking for someone who could bridge academic research in the Munk School with applications in public policy and global affairs.
“This appointment will allow me to continue working on issues that I think are particularly important in the current state of world affairs,” explained Sabia in a statement.
In a letter to students and staff at the Munk School, Gertler elaborated further, “The Dean of Arts & Science, the Provost, and I have also asked the Director to lead a consultative process within the University to determine whether establishing the Munk School as a free-standing Faculty would be a constructive step forward.”
