It is with great sadness that I heard about the passing away of David Malone, who played an important role in leading international development research and scholarly efforts in Canada and on the world stage.
David and I never overlapped at IDRC. I only reached out to him many years after I left the Centre. He was by then holding the momentous position of rector of the United Nations University, and I was leading academic and research projects in Bhutan. Although we held very different positions while we were at IDRC — he at the very top of the organization as President and myself near the bottom as a research associate pursuing my Master’s degree with support of the People, Land, and Water Program Initiative — the gap in seniority seemed to evaporate when we connected. His approach was that of a fellow colleague and kindred spirit. I believe we were both products of an organizational culture of generosity, equality, ethics, and research excellence that defined IDRC at that time. Also epitomizing these qualities in his role at UNU, he was approachable, kind, and generous with his time and knowledge.
David did not hesitate to provide valued guidance and support. He immediately shared valued contacts, comments, interest, and support for my project of advancing ethnographic research methods and the discipline of Anthropology in the remote Himalayan Kingdom. As many people have already remembered of him, he was a connector of people, projects, and ideas. Having worked in and with large international organizations where directors sometimes take an arms-length (and at other times, a condescending) approach with their own staff, let alone researchers they have never met before, what I will remember most about David was his openness, warmth, empathy, generosity of spirit, and perhaps most important of all, what centrally defines innovative research: the ability to take risks and explore ideas and innovative approaches.
He left this world with great courage in the face of extremely difficult circumstances. He also left an important legacy. For me, David was an important role model. He left a lasting impression on me and many others. He reminds us what development and the world needs now more than ever in a fractured world: kindness, empathy, and the pursuit of research excellence, ethics and innovative ideas that can make a real difference for the most vulnerable sectors of society.
With deep respect and humility, may you rest in power David.
Dr Ritu Verma
Anthropologist, Development Scholar, Civil Engineer
Adjunct Professor, Carleton University
Research Scholar, UCLA
Bulletin 79
January 2026