David arrived at IDRC just as I was implementing the Think Tank Initiative. As many colleagues will recall from his very first days, he questioned not only the relevance of many of IDRC programmes but also the staff themselves! My first meeting with him was unsettling, to say the least. Yet in his own way he gradually became deeply invested in the success of the programme, asking the right questions, challenging us to think more critically and pushing us to always aspire to ever greater ambition. He offered unique insights, and unwavering support of IDRC’s approach, even – perhaps especially – when it was challenged by external funders or outsiders.
It was only after I left IDRC that I came to fully appreciate the man. He was not only a brilliant thinker, but also generous and caring. I will cherish those moments and value his legacy.
Marie-Claude Martin
Bulletin 79
January 2026