Public Policy Forum

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.

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

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

• Policy research publications
• Public policy convening
• Leadership fellowship programs
• Policy events and awards
• Think tank research

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Program partnerships: Organizations partner with PPF on specific policy projects and initiatives, contributing to program funding.
3. 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.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canadian Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025PPF 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 ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Navius 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)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2025PPF 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 PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2024PPF 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ppforumca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ppforumca
• Facebookfacebook.com/publicpolicyforum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/276566
• Instagraminstagram.com/ppforumca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Policy Forum