David Bellerive is a public-sector strategist based in Ottawa. He brings experience in institutional finance, operations, and civic storytelling. His work focuses on the intersection of policy, systems, and delivery.
His goal is to help build the systems that deliver trust: in infrastructure, in institutions, and in Canada's ability to move forward. That means thinking beyond outputs, toward execution that is not only technically sound, but publicly meaningful.
Professional Background
I work at the intersection of public purpose and operational complexity, within one of Canada's largest bilingual universities. My expertise spans institutional finance, academic logistics, and strategic planning. The goal is consistent: to help teams move from intent to impact.
I have overseen more than 55 million dollars in budgets and supported executive decision-making through planning cycles, audit preparation, and policy implementation. I have managed academic operations and coordinated over 270 course contracts annually. I have also contributed to the management and utilization of research funding across diverse teams and portfolios.
Throughout this work, I have developed tools, clarified multi-stakeholder processes, and guided decisions that align financial constraints with strategic priorities. I understand how governance, policy, and delivery interact. I also understand that trust must be earned through results that withstand scrutiny, both internally and publicly.
I am currently completing a Master of Business Administration in Management Consulting, with a focus on execution, strategy, and public value. This is part of how I continue to expand the perspective and capabilities required to manage complexity in a way that serves people effectively.
What I Bring to the Table
Clarity in complexity
I help teams and leaders understand how financial, operational, and human factors intersect. I bring structure to problems that cross functions, policies, and personalities.
Credibility with stakeholders
I have worked across executive offices, academic leadership, public agencies, and creators. I build trust across silos by delivering well and communicating clearly.
Execution with perspective
From managing over fifty-five million dollars in operations to supporting research teams, I know how to navigate constraints while keeping long-term goals in view.
A purpose beyond the task
I care about more than what gets built. I care about why it matters, who it affects, and how it will be remembered once the ribbon is cut.
Civic Engagement
Outside of formal roles, I contribute to Rail Fans Canada, where I help produce accessible, research-driven media about transit and passenger rail. I also publish essays that explore how infrastructure earns trust, and what happens when it does not.
This work is part of the same question that drives my professional path. How do systems earn belief? What makes delivery feel not just competent, but credible and worth investing in? I believe infrastructure is not just about concrete and timelines. It is about the civic fabric it shapes, and the story it tells about what we value together.
What I Am Looking For
I am seeking opportunities to contribute to delivery that is bold, credible, and focused on public value. That could mean infrastructure, institutions, or civic platforms: work that matters, with real stakes.
I want to help shape how we build in Canada: not just by supporting strong ideas, but by making sure they are executed with care, clarity, and long-term integrity.
Guiding Values
Think long-term. Act practically.
I believe strategy only matters if it can be delivered and sustained over time.
Work through people, not just systems.
Even in complex structures, trust and clarity come from how we listen, align, and adapt.
Ask better questions. Deliver honest work.
I care about what gets built, but also how it holds up when challenged, and whether it earns the trust it asks for.
Make the complex legible.
I do not just solve problems. I help others understand them, so solutions can last.
Let's build the systems that shape what's next.
Public infrastructure needs more than vision: it needs people who can connect delivery with meaning, and ambition with accountability. That's the work I want to do.
I bring a unique mix of operational experience, civic insight, and creative strategy to complex systems. Whether you're leading a major project, designing a public platform, or scaling delivery capacity, I'd love to be part of that conversation, and that team.
If you're hiring, collaborating, or building something that matters, let's talk.
Work With Me