David Schaaf
Principal

Core Specializations:
Socio-economic analysis, qualitative analysis, evaluation

Education:
B.A., University of Alberta
M.A., Uppsala University (Sweden)

Associated with firm since: 2005

Previous Experience:
Health policy and research, legislative affairs, qualitative analysis.

Mr. Schaaf has been providing management consulting services to a broad range of public and private sector clients for over 13 years. Clients have included municipalities, industry, provincial government departments, and community groups.

Mr. Schaaf has experience carrying out socio-economic analysis, program and policy evaluations, strategic planning, and municipal benchmarking.  He has been engaged in numerous assignments requiring excellent report writing skills, strong qualitative (e.g. interviewing and facilitation) research skills, and superior quantitative skills (e.g. population projections, demand forecasts). A sampling of past assignments includes:

  • Socio-Economic Assessment of Caribou Range Planning in Alberta (2017-ongoing)
  • Socio-Economic Assessment of the Shell Waterton Complex (2017-2018)
  • Evaluation and Continuous Improvement Strategy for Alberta Human Services’ Provincial Training and Workforce Development Branch (2017).
  • Oil Sands Operations-Related Rotational Workforce Study (2017).
  • Population Projections for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) (2016-2017)
  • RMWB Municipal Benchmarking Exercise (2017)
  • Economic and Fiscal Analysis of Northlands Redevelopment (2016)
  • Edmonton Screen Industries Office Survey (2016)
  • Economic Impact of Conrich Area Structure Plan on the City of Chestermere and Region (2016)
  • Oil Sands Community Alliance (OSCA) Community Indicators Update (2015)
  • Socio-Economic Assessment of TransCanada Pipeline’s Energy East Project (2012-2014)
  • Evaluation of Alberta Human Services’ Workplace Training Program (2012)
  • Evaluation of Supporting Immigrants and Immigration to Alberta (SIIA) (2012)
  • Examination of Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) Delivery in Alberta (2011)
  • Development of policy objectives for building Alberta’s future workforce (2011)
  • Evaluation of the Alberta Access, Improvement, Measures (AIM) initiative on behalf of the primary health care initiative partners in Alberta (2008-2010)
  • Evaluation of Clinical ARPs (Alternate Relationship Plans) and the clinical services component of Academic ARPs in Alberta (2010)
  • Lead researcher for the health services component of the work Nichols Applied Management did to support development of the Capital Region Integrated Growth Management Plan. (2007)

Mr. Schaaf has also been engaged in carrying out socio-economic assessments of major projects in Alberta.  He has worked on several socio-economic impact assessments including: Shell’s Jackpine Mine Expansion Project and Pierre River Mine Project, Southern Pacific’s McKay Thermal Expansions Project, Teck’s Frontier Mine Project, and Shell’s Scotford Upgrader 2 Project.  As part of this work, Mr. Schaaf has carried out analysis on the economic effects of these projects (e.g. workforce and income effects), as well as quantified the effects of resource development in general on infrastructure and services (e.g. health services, education, etc.). This assessment work also involved interviews and discussions with service provider representatives (e.g. health, education, police and emergency services, etc.). Mr. Schaaf appeared as an expert witness on socio-economic issues before the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (AEUB) during the Suncor Voyageur hearing (2006) and before a Joint Federal/Provincial Review Panel Hearing for the Jackpine Mine Expansion Project (2012).

Before joining Nichols Applied Management, David served as Director of Research for the Official Opposition of Alberta where he oversaw policy development, assisted in strategic planning, and gained considerable experience in effective practice research. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on a variety of public policy issues. He has a strong background in health care policy and research having worked on projects that examined primary care reform, policy instrument utilization, and public policy debate on health reform. He also organized and executed province-wide public consultations as part of a health care policy development process.

Phone: 780-409-1757
Email: David Schaaf

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