Dwight Duncan, Ontario’s former deputy premier and minister of finance, has been appointed executive-in-residence at the Odette School of Business.

Duncan, a UWindsor alumnus (BA 1984, MBA 1989, LLD 2013), spent 25 years in public service and is currently a senior strategic advisor at McMillan LLP, as well as a principal at McMillan Vantage, the firm’s public policy advisory service.

He is also a board member of Travelers Insurance Canada, the Dominion General Insurance Company, Crown Crest Trust, and the Global Risk Institute, and serves as chair of the board of directors of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.

Mitchell Fields, dean of the Odette School of Business, says he is delighted to have Duncan on board his faculty.

“As a business school, we believe it is very important to expose our students to real world leaders,” he says. “He brings a wealth of political and managerial leadership to the school and our students.”

Since September, Duncan has been teaching a class on managing political risk, using his experience in private and public policy and his nearly 10 years in cabinet to drive interest and discussion. He says he has been enjoying teaching and notes that the students are engaged and eager to learn.

“Teaching material on areas like risk management in our competitive economy is right on trend in the corporate world,” says Duncan.

During his time with students, he makes use of such real-world issues as public-private partnerships to keep the discussions relevant.

“One of my lectures is on P3 in Canada and the US. I use the Gordie Howe Bridge as an example when teaching my students the importance of risk management in both for-profit, crown corporations, and not-for-profit organizations,” Duncan says.

He says he is hopeful that sharing his insights with students will help them to make a comfortable transition into the business world following graduation.

—Dana Roe