Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Sheryl Saperia is the Director of Policy for Canada at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. In that capacity, she expands FDD's national security work among Canadian policymakers, media and allied organizations. Based in Ottawa, Sheryl joins an international team of FDD professionals working out of Washington, D.C., Brussels, Berlin, and Prague.

Sheryl served previously as the director of government relations at a public policy consulting firm in Ottawa, and the senior legal and policy advisor for a counterterrorism advocacy organization in Toronto. She was heavily involved in drafting federal legislation in Canada that would allow victims of terrorism and their families to launch civil lawsuits against local and state sponsors of terrorism. After years of effort, a government bill to that effect was passed in March 2012. She has also testified as an expert witness before Canadian parliamentary committees and appeared on television and radio.

Sheryl has a Masters of Science degree in comparative politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she focused on issues relating to political violence, terrorism, and homegrown radicalization. She also holds a law degree from the University of Western Ontario, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto. In February 2013, Sheryl was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her ongoing advocacy on behalf of Canadian victims of terrorism, and for her advancement of sound public policy on terrorism issues in Canada.