David Baron, M.I.B.A., B.Soc.Sc. - Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Baron is President and CEO of Cowater, and has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the company and its four operating groups, as well as leading strategic alliance and partnership opportunities for the firm. He provides oversight to business development efforts, with particular attention to emerging business and areas of growth.  He is the leader of Cowater’s senior management team, and works closely with the Chief Operating Officer and the firm’s four group Vice Presidents (Municipal Services and Enterprise Development; Public Financial Management and Accountability; Social Development; and Water, Sanitation and Environment). Mr. Baron came to Cowater from Export Development Canada in 2006 where he had gained wide-ranging experience in project management and leadership while guiding teams in both the government and private sector environments. During his tenure with EDC, Mr. Baron led and managed transaction teams throughout all stages of project implementation while refining his leadership, management and negotiation/arbitration skills. He has worked extensively in collaboration with many internationally- recognized consultants, financial partners and legal firms.  Mr. Baron has liaised with all levels of government, both in Canada and internationally, throughout the lengthy project and transaction management process at both EDC and Cowater.  Mr. Baron has led and managed numerous Cowater projects as both Project Director and Project Principal with the key responsibility of overall quality control, and has extensive work experience in Asia, Central and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 

Mr. Baron graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1998 with a Bachelor degree in Social Science (political science and economics) and furthered his education at Australia’s Sydney University Graduate School of Business, where he obtained a Masters’ degree in International Business Administration in 2001.  Mr. Baron is currently Vice-Chairman of the Board at CRC Sogema and a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Canadian Council on Africa.