Merlin Chatwin (he/him)
Executive Director, Open North
Merlin Chatwin received his PhD from the University of Western Ontario in the Geography Department. His research area is urban policy and local governance with a specific focus on inclusive civic participation in distinct geographies. In 2018, Merlin was awarded the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship, and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. He has over 10 years of domestic and international experience focusing on civic engagement, policy development and local government reform. With an MA in Organizational Development and Leadership, he has a keen interest in the development of individuals to reach their full potential. He has significant experience in developing strategic alliances in governance, education and food security sectors. Merlin has expertise in project management and in leading cross-sectoral groups through strategic planning and collaborative processes. Further, he has led multiple monitoring and evaluation projects across diverse sectors and geographic and cultural contexts.