David Watters is the President of the firm. Prior to the creation of Global Advantage, David pursued a 30-year career in the Government of Canada including Assistant Deputy Minister positions in Industry Canada, Treasury Board, and Finance Canada. As the Assistant Deputy Minister at Finance Canada for Economic Development and Corporate Finance, he helped shape Canada’s economic and innovation investments. David then established the Global Advantage Consulting Group Inc. in Ottawa in 2002. Since then, the firm has completed over 500 assignments in Canada and abroad, providing advice to corporate, association, university, and government clients, primarily in the areas of R&D, new technology development, innovation, commercialization, economic development, and trade.

David holds a bachelor’s in economics from Queen’s University as well as a law degree in corporate, commercial, and tax law from Queen’s Law School. As an adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa for seven years, he taught International Negotiation to MBA students.

Dawnita Spac is Vice President and a co-founder of Global Advantage. She directs stakeholder and client relations and company operations. Prior to the creation of the firm, Dawnita worked for over 32 years in the federal government with over 20 years as a senior executive in Health Canada, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Public Works and Government Services and the Treasury Board Secretariat. Dawnita has an Honours Bachelors degree from McGill University and the University of Vienna, an EMBA from Queens University and an Advanced Certification in Facilitation and Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Harvard/Windsor Law School project.

Dr. Camille Boulet has extensive experience in defence and security S&T, strategy, industry collaboration, and public policy in Canada, the United States, and NATO. His 30 year career at DRDC began as a defence scientist specializing in CBRN research and ended as Chief of Staff (ADM S&T), with many successes including the conception and implementation of the IDEaS program. Cam was awarded the United States of America Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service (2018). He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Victoria, British Columbia, and a B.Sc. in Pharmacy from the University of Alberta. Cam completed his National Securities Studies (nss) course at Canadian Forces College, Toronto, Ontario.

Robert Crawhall is a strategic innovation advisor to the public, private and academic sectors in AI, cybersecurity, net-zero energy and advanced materials. His private sector career spanned telecommunications, energy and manufacturing sectors with multinational corporations. Over the past 15 years he has run several collaborative innovation organizations focused on nanotechnology, IoT, eCommerce, wireless and photonic technologies. Robert sits on the boards of private and not-for-profit organizations dealing with aerospace manufacturing, advanced materials and national security. He holds the ICD.D Director certification. Robert is a professional engineer in the Province of Ontario, holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Peter MacKinnon has a rich background working in the public and private sectors as well as in academic and international institutions. For example, for the private sector he worked for Cognos as Director of Corporate Development and later as Director, Computer-Aided Software Engineering. For the federal government he has worked for the Ministry of State for Science and Technology, as a Special Advisor on Advanced Information and Communication Technologies. Academically he has worked as an adjunct professor of engineering at Carleton University and at the School of Information Technology and Engineering at the University of Ottawa as Executive Director of WiSense (Heterogeneous wireless sensor networks). He is currently a Senior Research Associate in a Smart Cities Lab in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa and a Senior Partner with Global Advantage.

Bert van den Berg has deep experience in Canada’s research and innovation system – as a researcher, engineer, and funding executive. At NRC he grew a research group focused on real-time machining of complex surfaces (airfoils). As a software engineer he helped Hymarc develop, market and install 3D laser scanners. More recently he led various industry-focused research funding programs for NSERC. This included the development of NSERC’s Strategy for Partnerships and Innovation, and the launch and growth of NSERC’s College & Community Innovation program. They have received significant government funded, contributing to clean growth across Canada. He holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa (innovation policy), a Master of Engineering from Carleton University (Computer Aided Manufacturing) and a Bachelor of Engineering from Waterloo.

Susan McIntyre has over 20 years of experience as a Knowledge Management (KM) Practitioner and another 20 years as an Information Management (IM) specialist at Defence Research and Development Canada; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; whole-of-government initiatives; and as an independent consultant. Her expertise is in KM strategy and policy, operationalizing KM and IM theory, lessons learned processes, and Communities of Practice, subjects on which she has written and presented nationally and internationally. She has provided research and analysis on decision support and strategic defence and security issues. Ms. McIntyre holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Lethbridge, a Master of Library Science from the University of Alberta and a Masters Certificate in Public Management from Carleton University. She was responsible for conducting lessons learned for whole-of-government initiatives, including the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, for which she received a Deputy Minister Commendation at National Defence.

Michael Rowell is the Director of Data Analytics and Business Development at Global Advantage Consulting Group. Contributing in various capacities since June 2020, he has a Masters in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, along with a Joint-Honours bachelor’s in Political Science and History from McGill University.

Edmer Buen is a Senior Multimedia Developer and has managed graphical content for Global Advantage since 2017. He holds an Interactive Multimedia Design Diploma from Algonquin College.

Kathryn Kavanagh has rejoined Global Advantage after completing her master’s degree in Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. Prior to coming to Canada, she worked as a mineral exploration geologist in Africa and South America. She also has experience as an adviser to government and of project development and implementation for consulting companies and spent several years editing dictionaries for Oxford University Press. Her current interests lie in international affairs, particularly in international development and in the challenges faced by fragile states. Kathryn also has bachelor’s degrees in Classics from the University of Oxford and in Geology from Rhodes University in South Africa, as well as a master’s in Library and Information Studies. She is a Chartered Geologist through the Geological Society of London and a Qualified Information Scientist.