UNB Alumni
Telling our #ProudlyUNB stories

In this special finale Season 3 episode, we turn the tables on UNBeknownst host Katie Davey (BA’17)!

In her day job, Katie is a public policy expert and social innovator, currently serving as the Pond-Deshpande Centre’s (PDC) Executive Director at the University of New Brunswick. Previously, she was the Director of Policy & Media at the Public Policy Forum, and also served as senior advisor in the Office of the Premier of New Brunswick. Armed with a degree in political science from UNB and master’s in applied politics from Wilfrid Laurier University, Katie has the perfect mix of academic and real-world savvy to tackle socio-economic challenges through social innovation, entrepreneurship, and public policy. Selected as a top innovator by Atlantic Business Magazine in 2023, Katie is a go-to voice in political commentary and opinion writing, making waves in major publications and as a regular on CBC New Brunswick and Atlantic. She is the Founder and Principal of Femme Wonk and serves on the Board of Directors for the Human Development Council, Action Canada, and other community groups. 

In this episode:   

• Katie’s origin story and how she got her start into politics, public policy and advocacy. 

• The impact of UNB’s Pond-Deshponde Centre and what exactly social innovation and social entrepreneurship means on the ground. 

• The social innovation lab – and how that’s shifting things in New Brunswick. 

• Problem-solving through the lens of social good. 

• The growth of ventures working on social innovation and social good in New Brunswick. 

• The information/communications challenges of our current environment. 
• How New Brunswick is stacking up against other jurisdictions around the world for social innovation and growth. 

Where to listen:  

• Spotify  

• Apple Podcasts  
• Libsyn 

Links and resources: 

Katie’s LinkedIN 

Pond Deshpande Centre 

Thanks to:   

• Our alumni host, Katie Davey 

• Music by alumni artist, Beats of Burden  

• Our alumni Affinity Partners, TD Insurance and Manulife 

  
To listen to UNBeknownst and for more info on the podcast, the hosts and how to subscribe to new episode alerts, visit our website.