Philip Spencer

Catholic education provided a strong foundation for the work that Philip Spencer does now. As a graduate of St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School in Barrie, the humble service modelled by his teachers and peers gave Philip something to strive for well after high school was over.

Philip graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa. During his years in Ottawa, he was elected President of the Economics Student Association, nominated Valedictorian, and participated in co-op jobs in Canada’s federal government as well as abroad in West Africa. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Toronto.

After graduation, Philip worked as a trade consultant for the World Bank in Lebanon, and as a research assistant in Ghana. He also served as an economist in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in Sierra Leone, playing a key role in the development of the country’s five-year national development plan.

Philip currently works in Gambia, as a governance advisor through the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Supporting a Mayor, Philip is helping deliver a municipal bus service and enhance the waste management system for a city of 500,000 people. Philip credits his Catholic education with allowing him to build inclusive relationships in a world without borders, as a member of a community with shared values.