International Advisory Board

The Honourable David C. Dingwall was installed as the 7^th President and Vice-Chancellor of Cape Breton University on April 6, 2018.

Under his direction, Cape Breton University has achieved many significant milestones including launching a new strategic plan, new academic plan, an updated and inclusive executive committee, anew CBU Brand, unprecedented enrolment growth, and a revitalized campus, with plans for future growth and development.

Mr. Dingwall is highly regarded for his substantial, in-depth experience in both the private and public sectors, at both the national and international levels. In the 1993 Canadian election, under The Honourable Jean Chrétien, Mr. Dingwall was appointed to Cabinet as the Minister of Public Works and Minister of Supply and Services, Minister responsible for Canada Post, Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing, Minister responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint, Minister responsible for Defence Construction Limited, and the Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Mr. Dingwall also served on several Cabinet committees, including the Treasury Board and Economic Development. In 1996, Mr. Dingwall convinced Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to host the G7 Summit in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Leaders from the G7 convened in Halifax and Boris Yeltsin, the President of Russia, was a special attendee at that session. In 1996, Mr. Dingwall was appointed Minister of Health and, in 1997, he passed the Tobacco Control Act which, at the time, was the toughest tobacco legislation in the world. He was subsequently honoured by the Canadian Cancer Society and the World Health Organization.

Mr. Dingwall also has extensive corporate governance experience. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Canadian Mint, in less than two years, Mr. Dingwall grew its revenue to more than $100 million. Mr. Dingwall was also Co-Director of the Canada China Institute for Business and Development.

He holds degrees in commerce and law from Dalhousie University, has studied Corporate Governance at Harvard Law School, and is also a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D), Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. In 1997, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Cape Breton University.

Mr. Dingwall is also a distinguished author, most recently having penned “Negotiating So Everyone Wins” – Secrets you can use from Canada’s top business, sports, labour and political negotiators, the only book of its kind in North America.

He has been an extraordinary mentor to many Cape Bretoners and Canadians from coast to coast to coast, helping them establish their own careers and make a mark across our country.