Public Policy Forum
Public Policy Forum is an independent, non-partisan Canadian think tank founded in 1987 that convenes approximately 200 member organizations across government, industry, academia, and civil society to produce applied policy research, host flagship events and awards, and run learning programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Public Policy Forum does
Public Policy Forum (PPF) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit Canadian think tank founded in 1987 by Shelly Ehrenworth and headquartered in Ottawa. Its core function is convening — bringing together approximately 200 member organizations spanning federal, provincial, and territorial governments, industry, academic institutions, unions, and the non-profit sector to address Canadian public policy challenges across energy, democracy, health, talent, and Atlantic growth. PPF's product portfolio includes applied research reports, policy memos, op-eds, six specialized newsletters (PPF Insider, Health Security, Atlantic Momentum, Canada-U.S., Build Big Things, The Lost Estate), the WONK weekly podcast hosted by Amanda Lang, and structured learning programs through PPF Academy and the Action Canada Fellowship. Major convening events include the annual Testimonial Dinner Awards (1,200+ attendees, 120+ leaders honored since 1988), Canada Growth Summit, Frank McKenna Awards, Western Dinner, and Fall Lecture. PPF also operates its own awards portfolio (Testimonial Dinner Award, Global Laureate Award launched in 2026, Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism, Emerging Leader Award, Frank McKenna Award, Peter Lougheed Award).
PPF does not develop proprietary technology. Its underlying "platform" is its institutional convening authority, member relationships, and editorial brand built over nearly four decades. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of organizational membership fees, program partnerships, event ticketing and corporate sponsorships, and philanthropic donations as a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration Number 844430009 RR0001). PPF distributes its work through its website (ppforum.ca), major podcast platforms, email newsletters, and active social media channels (X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky). Recent strategic activity includes a leadership transition to Inez Jabalpurwala as President & CEO in late 2024, geographic expansion into Atlantic Canada, and high-profile partnerships with the Munk School of Global Affairs and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Public Policy Forum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Public Policy Forum
- Legal name
- Public Policy Forum
- Website
- https://ppforum.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Public Policy Forum is an independent, non-partisan Canadian think tank founded in 1987 that convenes approximately 200 member organizations across government, industry, academia, and civil society to produce applied policy research, host flagship events and awards, and run learning programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Public Policy Forum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Policy Research and Convening Services
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN), Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH), Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Congresses (THAHAJAF)
Keywords
Where Public Policy Forum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Public Policy Forum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: PPF is funded by a mix of memberships. The network of members includes about 200 organizations spanning industry, federal, provincial and territorial governments, academic institutions, unions and the non-profit sector.
- Program partnerships: Organizations partner with PPF on specific policy projects and initiatives, contributing to program funding.
- Event ticketing and sponsorships: Revenue generated from event attendance fees and corporate sponsorships for events such as the Testimonial Dinner, Canada Growth Summit, and Frank McKenna Awards.
- Philanthropic donations: As a registered charity (Charitable Registration Number: 844430009 RR0001), PPF accepts charitable donations to support its mission of creating resilient public policy.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Public Policy Forum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Public Policy Forum is an independent, non-partisan Canadian think tank and registered charity that convenes public and private sector leaders to produce evidence-based policy research and recommendations. Its sellable offerings include published research reports, the WONK weekly policy podcast, six specialized newsletters, the annual Testimonial Dinner and other signature awards/events, the Action Canada leadership fellowship, and PPF Academy learning programs for mid-career policy professionals.
Product overview
The Public Policy Forum (PPF) is a non-partisan think tank offering a portfolio of policy research and engagement products rather than a unified technology platform. Its core offerings include: Research Reports (policy publications on energy, democracy, health, talent, and Atlantic growth), WONK Podcast (weekly policy show hosted by Amanda Lang), PPF Newsletters (six specialized weekly publications including PPF Insider, Health Security, Atlantic Momentum, Canada-U.S., Build Big Things, and The Lost Estate), Events (annual Testimonial Dinner Awards, Canada Growth Summit, Frank McKenna Awards, and sector-specific convenings), Awards Programs (recognizing Canadian policy leadership), PPF Academy Learning Programs (professional training for policy professionals), and Action Canada Fellowship Program (leadership development). PPF does not operate as a technology product company and does not offer APIs, software integrations, or AI-powered products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Research Reports Applied policy research publications covering energy, democracy, health, talent, and Atlantic growth, providing policymakers with actionable, expert-driven recommendations on Canadian policy issues.
- WONK Podcast Weekly policy podcast hosted by acclaimed journalist Amanda Lang covering big ideas in unprecedented times, featuring interviews with policy leaders, ministers, CEOs, and experts. Distributed via YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
- PPF Newsletters Suite of six specialized weekly newsletters written by top Canadian journalists covering economic and innovation news, including PPF Insider, Health Security, Atlantic Momentum, Canada-U.S., Build Big Things, and The Lost Estate.
- PPF Academy Learning Programs Innovative training designed and delivered by leading experts for mid-career policy professionals, including the AI Policy Compass program and other applied policy courses.
- Action Canada Fellowship Program Non-partisan fellowship program housed within Public Policy Forum that builds the next generation of exceptional Canadian leadership through experiential learning and cross-sector engagement.
- Policy Events and Convenings Major policy events including the annual Testimonial Dinner Awards (1,200+ attendees), Canada Growth Summit, Frank McKenna Awards, Western Dinner, Fall Lecture, and sector-specific policy roundtables bringing together thinkers, doers, and deciders from all sectors.
- PPF Awards Programs Annual awards programs recognizing Canadian leadership in policy and good governance, including the Testimonial Dinner Award, Global Laureate Award, Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism, Emerging Leader Award, Frank McKenna Award, and Peter Lougheed Award.
- Organizational Membership Program Institutional membership program engaging approximately 200 organizations across industry, federal, provincial and territorial governments, academic institutions, unions, and the non-profit sector, providing engagement opportunities to shape Canadian public policy direction.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 120 leaders honored since 1988 at the annual Testimonial Dinner
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Public Policy Forum
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Public Policy Forum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Public Policy Forum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Canadian Chamber of CommercecorePPF and Canadian Chamber of Commerce released a joint report finding that expanding Canada's LNG and oil exports could significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The report recommends Canada adopt a coordinated national energy-export strategy.
- Navius ResearchminorNavius Research provided analysis for the PPF/Canadian Chamber of Commerce report on LNG and oil exports, projecting that Canadian LNG exports could achieve 40-70 million tonnes of CO₂e annual net global reduction by 2035.
- Sector Experts (including Mark Lievonen)minorPPF report on drug shortages included input from sector experts including former Sanofi Canada president Mark Lievonen, identifying vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical supply chains.
- Munk School of Global Affairs & Public PolicycorePPF and Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy launched the Canada-U.S. 'Matter More' project in April 2024 to address cross-border policy issues between Canada and the United States.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Public Policy Forum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- C.D. Howe Institute: Canada's leading economic and public policy think tank based in Toronto. Directly comparable to PPF in its research-and-convening model, member-driven funding, and focus on producing actionable policy recommendations for Canadian decision-makers.
- Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP): Montreal-based independent policy research institute. Highly comparable to PPF in its non-partisan research and convening mandate, bilingual reach, and focus on Canadian federal policy issues.
- Macdonald-Laurier Institute: Ottawa-based public policy think tank. Directly comparable to PPF in its Ottawa location, multi-channel media presence (podcasts, op-eds, reports), and convening of senior policymakers and business leaders.
- Canada West Foundation: Western Canadian public policy think tank headquartered in Calgary. Directly comparable in its independent policy research model, event-based engagement (luncheons, conferences), and member-supported funding structure.
- Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI): Waterloo-based think tank focused on global governance. Comparable to PPF in its applied research and convening model, but with a larger endowment and a stronger international policy focus; PPF's Canada-U.S. work overlaps with CIGI's mandate.
- Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy: University of Toronto policy school and a strategic PPF partner (Canada-U.S. 'Matter More' project, 2024). Directly comparable in its research and convening of senior policymakers on Canadian and global affairs.
- Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada: Vancouver-based think tank focused on Canada's Asia-Pacific relations. Comparable in its independent research mandate, federal-government funding model, and convening of business and policy leaders on international affairs.
Regional players
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce: National business advocacy organization and PPF partner on joint energy exports research. Comparable in policy research output and convening role, but with a distinct commercial/advocacy mandate rather than a non-partisan think-tank positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Brookings Institution: Large U.S.-based think tank with a global policy footprint. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the think-tank space operating research, convening, and media across multiple policy domains, though at materially greater scale and resources than PPF.
- Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based international affairs think tank. Comparable in its non-partisan research-and-convening model, prestigious events, and production of policy reports for senior decision-makers across government, industry, and civil society.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Public Policy Forum social profiles
Digital presencePublic Policy Forum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Public Policy Forum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Public Policy Forum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Public Policy Forum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Public Policy Forum
What does Public Policy Forum do?
Public Policy Forum is an independent, non-partisan Canadian think tank and registered charity that convenes public and private sector leaders to produce evidence-based policy research and recommendations. Its sellable offerings include published research reports, the WONK weekly policy podcast, six specialized newsletters, the annual Testimonial Dinner and other signature awards/events, the Action Canada leadership fellowship, and PPF Academy learning programs for mid-career policy professionals.
Is Public Policy Forum a public or private company?
Public Policy Forum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Public Policy Forum founded?
Public Policy Forum was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Public Policy Forum based?
Public Policy Forum is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Public Policy Forum make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are program partnerships, event ticketing and sponsorships and philanthropic donations.
Who are Public Policy Forum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are C.D. Howe Institute, Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP), Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Canada West Foundation, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. Canadian Chamber of Commerce is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Brookings Institution and Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs).
Does Public Policy Forum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Public Policy Forum.
What industry is Public Policy Forum in?
Public Policy Forum's product category is Public Policy Research and Convening Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAO, Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes, with a secondary code of BPAHACAN, Public Sector & Policy Consulting. Its NAICS code is 8133.