Senior Policy Analyst (Religious Studies, PhD)

Dr. Sahir Dewji, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

By: Leia Felice, Career Centre Peer

Sahir Dewji is a knowledgeable professional in the field of policy analysis and development, with a specialization in equity and gender-based assessments in governmental settings. Rich in academic background and having navigated the complexities of policymaking, Sahir provides insightful information about the opportunities and challenges in his field.

Sahir began his post-secondary studies at the University of Waterloo, obtaining a bachelor's degree in biological sciences. Like most immigrant students Sahir’s parents wanted him to become a doctor or lawyer – a safe profession that would guarantee a better life than his parents. However, after dabbling in many elective courses, Sahir gravitated towards Religious Studies. With the encouragement of two professors, Sahir graduated with a BSc and a minor in Religious Studies. This prompted him to pursue a master's degree in Near Eastern Language s and Civilizations from Harvard University followed by a PhD in Religious Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Sahir's varied academic experience has given him a unique viewpoint and a range of talents that are extremely valuable to his position as a policy analyst.

Sahir has worked for the federal government in various capacities, providing direction and support for the execution of equity and gender-based analysis (GBA plus) projects under the Strategic and Horizontal Policy Branch of IRCC. To provide an idea of the day-to-day projects and tasks of a policy analyst, Sahir is involved in coordinating and connecting various teams across the department on horizontal initiatives. In his role, he serves as the department’s challenge function on gender-based analysis, which is required for the development of policies and programs. As a subject matter expert on his assigned files, Sahir drafts briefing materials for senior management and provides recommendations to help facilitate appropriate courses of action that carry implications for the department and Canada-wide impacts.

In addition to performing policy evaluations and ensuring that programs and policies are devoid of prejudice and discrimination, his responsibilities also involve offering professional support to student employees on his team as well as other colleagues looking to sharpen their GBA Plus skills.  Sahir's initiatives have played a pivotal role in cultivating a more egalitarian and inclusive approach to policy development within IRCC.

Sahir contends that it is important to be adaptable in negotiating the changing landscape of policy work, which leads him to be unwavering in his quest for justice and fairness. A policy analyst must also have a high capacity for critical thought, be dedicated to mobilizing change and be able to successfully communicate complicated concepts to a variety of audiences (both domestic and international).

Students who desire to pursue careers in policy should:

Obtain Higher Education: Consider aiming for graduate and undergraduate degrees in pertinent subjects including economics, public policy, international relations or political science. That said, Sahir's degree in Religious Studies provides a particular vantage point that underscores the human-centric aspect of policy development. In addition, the advanced skill sets that he has gained through graduate school have proven to not only be useful in this line of work but also highly valorized. Moreover, Sahir also draws his analytical skills from his time as an Honours Science major at UW. The ability to look at a problem from many angles and find an optimal solution is highly valued by employers in any field. For example, as an undergraduate science student, Sahir gained a large amount of problem-solving experience from having to adapt and modify an experimental protocol to the results of lab and practical work.

Gain Relevant Experience: To obtain real-world experience in policy analysis and development, attempt to find relevant part-time employment, co-ops or internships in government agencies, think tanks, NGOs or academic institutions. These experiences offer priceless hands-on experience as well as networking opportunities. Sahir explained at the early stages of his career that although he was very educated, employers were concerned about his lack of in-office experience as he did not pursue any internship opportunities.

Develop Skills: Develop fundamental skills comparable to data analysis, writing, problem-solving, research and communication. Many of these skills are gained through undergraduate/graduate studies work which prepares students to think critically, absorb and analyze diverse perspectives on issues, and be innovative in their approach. Sahir described his education as "six years dedicated to research in the university setting." To this day, research serves as a key component of his work as it helps him to brief a memo or draft a policy paper. To hone these abilities even further, Sahir advises students to take part in clubs, organizations and extracurricular activities which tackle policy-related topics in order to gain practical experience which can help to highlight transferable skills more clearly on a resumé.

Network: Networking is vital, according to Sahir, simply because it encourages individuals to establish personal and professional contacts that may lead to new opportunities. Prioritizing networking in your career development can help you gain advice, form relationships with industry experts and foster access to mentorship opportunities.

Sahir's commitment to fostering a more equitable society demonstrates his love for what he does. His role allows him to help dismantle structural obstacles and advance social fairness, especially in immigration policies and international collaboration. It is important to ensure that, if you are interested in a policy-based position, that you can bring to the table a clear articulation around contemporary debates which revolve around equity justice and democracy, while advocating for voices that promote diversity and spark resilience within the community.