Sven Spengemann

Early life

Spengemann came to Canada at age 14 with his family, and settled in the Credit Woodlands neighbourhood of Mississauga. He is a graduate of Woodlands Secondary School and the University of Toronto (Mississauga) (’90). He also served with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets (845 Squadron).

Education

Spengemann has degrees from the University of Toronto (Mississauga) (B.Sc.), Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B) and the Collège d’Europe in Bruges, Belgium (LL.M, European Union Law). He earned his doctorate at Harvard Law School in the field of political and constitutional theory, under the direction of Anne-Marie Slaughter. In the course of his studies, Spengemann earned a number of awards and distinctions, including a Canada-US Fulbright Scholarship (2001). In 2008, Osgoode Hall Law School recognized Spengemann’s academic and professional achievements with a Gold Key Alumni award.

Career

Spengemann’s professional experience spans the private sector, academia, government and international affairs. From 2005 until 2012, he served with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). As a senior UN official, Spengemann led a Baghdad-based team of international and Iraqi experts who assisted the Iraqi Parliament and Government of Iraq with political, constitutional and legal reforms. Spengemann also worked for a major Canadian bank and in the Government of Canada’s Privy Council Office in Ottawa, where he was part of the team that supported Prime Minister Chrétien’s Smart Regulation initiative. Spengemann held academic and teaching affiliations at the Munk School of Global Affairs, the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the Glendon School of Public & International Affairs.

Politics

Spengemann was active in student politics at the University of Toronto, having served two terms of office as an elected representative on the Mississauga campus student union. He joined the Liberal Party in 1993, inspired by Jean Chrétien’s vision and commitment, and became actively involved as a member of local riding associations in Mississauga and as a campaign volunteer.

In 2012, upon completion of his UN service in Iraq, Spengemann became a member of the Riding Association of Mississauga-Lakeshore and took on the portfolio of VP Communications and Outreach. In early 2014, Spengemann declared his intention to seek the federal Liberal nomination for the riding and won the contest in September of that year. Spengemann is a supporter of Justin Trudeau and is known for his advocacy of public service. He was quoted as saying “"What better way to serve than to have a mandate from my fellow citizens to represent them?" in a recent article published by the Huffington Post.

In the 2015 federal election, Spengemann defeated Conservative incumbent Stella Ambler to win the new Mississauga—Lakeshore riding.