Robert Dowler

Rob Dowler recently retired after serving 35 years as a senior official with the Ontario government. In retirement, Rob has devoted his time to teaching graduate and undergraduate planning students at TMU and UofT as well as to board work, consulting engagements and various mentorships.

Prior to retiring, Rob spent five years as assistant deputy minister (ADM), economic, environment, justice and intergovernmental policy in The Cabinet Office. During this time, he also served as chair and president of the Ring of Fire Infrastructure Development Corporation. Before joining Cabinet Office Policy, Rob served as corporate chief strategist for information technology for the Ontario government.

From 2003-07, Rob was policy ADM in the Ministry of Government & Consumer Services and the Ministry of Consumer & Business Services. Before joining the Ontario Public Service, Rob worked as an urban planner with the City of Ottawa and as a planning consultant in Toronto.

Rob holds the ICD.D certification from the Institute of Corporate Directors and recently completed his second term as an elected member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute board. He has served on various other boards including: the Ring of Fire Infrastructure Development Corporation, Tarion Warranty Corporation, the Electrical Safety Authority, the Technical Safety Standards Authority, the Ontario Motor Vehicles Industry Council and the Ontario Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund.

Rob is a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, a Registered Professional Planner and a Professional Land Economist.  He has been awarded The Amethyst Award for outstanding achievement, the IPAC Award for innovative management, the U.S. National Consumer Agency Achievement Award, two U.S. Achievement in Consumer Education Awards, the Environmental Commissioner’s Award and the Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence. In 2014, Rob was inducted into the LAI Land Economics Society.

Academically, Rob graduated with an Honors BA from Queen’s and an MSc in Planning from UofT where he was awarded a CMHC Scholarship and the Ian MacPherson Prize. Rob has completed executive programs at Schulich and Queen’s and a strategic management program at Harvard where he has often served as an interviewer for prospective students.

Rob led various initiatives under six provincial governments including files related to: the Planning Act, the Ontario Building Code, Ontario’s delegated administrative authorities, legislation to strengthen Securities regulation, the largest consumer protection reform in Ontario’s history, Ontario’s award-winning I&IT strategy, implementation of the Rural Connects Broadband program and a range of municipal, economic, environment, energy and justice policy initiatives in The Cabinet Office.

Rob is married with two grown children. He is an avid road cyclist, triathlete, canoeist, mountaineer and runner who has successfully competed in the Boston Marathon, the Canadian Half Ironman and the Canada Ski Marathon. In 2018, he completed his first 21,000-foot summit in the Himalayas and in 2024 Rob and his partner completed the 1,100 km Great Divide Trail in the Canadian Rockies. In his spare time, Rob enthusiastic sponsor of various Indigenous and local charities.