From Teaching to Policy: Lauren Thurber on GBA+, Education, and Public Service [Part 1]

In this first part of Polisci, host Navid Mahlooji speaks with Lauren Thurber, a former educator who transitioned into public policy after a decade in teaching. Now a policy analyst at Health Canada, Lauren shares how the COVID-19 pandemic, personal experiences, and a passion for equity-driven policymaking led her to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPA) at Concordia University.

Lauren discusses her research on cosmetic regulations across Canada, the U.S., the EU, and Australia, where she applies GBA+ (Gender-Based Analysis Plus) to assess how policies impact different communities. She also reflects on the teacher shortage in Quebec, the importance of soft skills in policy work, and the challenges of balancing grad school, work, and parenthood.

Note: MLT means Medical Lab Technician

Credits

Host: Navid Mahlooji

Guest: Lauren Thurber

Production: João Roque

Audio Editing: Gaëlle Poirier-Morin

Date: February 13th – 3 PM

Location: Concordia University – Library

Music credits:9:03 Stupid Trade War _ Stupid President by JKL17:56 Be Present by Ketsa26:17 words will always hurt me by coolkid