David Sweanor

David is an Adjunct Professor of Law with the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics at the University of Ottawa and an Honorary (Consultant) Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham. He is a public health activist who has worked on national and global tobacco and health issues for more than a third of a century. He played a key role in a wide range of Canadian tobacco control policies, and has worked globally with organizations such as the International Union Against Cancer, World Health Organization, World Bank, Pan American Health Organization, and numerous governments, law firms and health agencies.

His primary area of work has been the interaction of law and economics as a determinant of public health, and recently much of his time has been focused on the advent of innovative reduced risk products capable of replacing lethal cigarettes.

His interests extend to a wide range of issues, and he funds numerous initiatives in a sometimes-Quixotic effort to create a better world. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Individual Philanthropist award for Ottawa in 2016.

David obtained his law degree from the University of Toronto and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. His work is done pro bono.