David Barrick
A Seasoned Administrator and Business Leader
Early Life
David Barrick was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, where his early years were shaped by a deep appreciation for community, governance, and public responsibility. He attended local schools and quickly stood out as someone with a natural talent for leadership and public speaking. From a young age, David showed a strong interest in how systems work—particularly government systems—and was drawn to the mechanics of policy, accountability, and civic service. He went on to receive an Honours Bachelor’s in Political Science from Brock University, with a concentration in Law.
Career
David Barrick has built a distinguished career at the intersection of government operations, strategic leadership, and public accountability. Over the past two decades, he has held key leadership roles in both municipal government and private advisory capacities, becoming widely respected for his pragmatic approach to complex challenges and his ability to turn vision into measurable results.
Most notably, David served as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the City of Brampton, one of Canada’s largest and fastest-growing municipalities. In that role, he managed a workforce of over 6,000 employees and oversaw an operating and capital budget exceeding $700 million. His leadership focused on fiscal discipline, transparency, and the modernization of government services. Under his direction, Brampton implemented significant governance reforms, strengthened its procurement systems, and prioritized citizen-centric service delivery.
Prior to Brampton, David held several senior-level positions, including Interim CAO and Director roles in the Niagara region – including serving as a Member of the Niagara Region Police Service Board. In each role, he led transformation initiatives that improved efficiency and restored public trust by bringing structure, and accountability.
Most recently, David has served as CAO in the London area earning Thames Centre’s first Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and launched ‘OpenBook,’ a transparency tool that earned an AMCTO Certificate of Merit and gave residents a clearer view of how tax dollars are invested. David further secured millions in grants for housing-enabling water infrastructure and recreation facilities while strengthening public engagement through town halls, online surveys, and a Customer Service Charter that set new service standards. Most importantly, he led Thames Centre to be recognized as one of Southwestern Ontario’s Best Places to Work.
David is frequently consulted by organizations navigating public policy, governance frameworks, or crisis management challenges. His ability to translate public sector knowledge into actionable private sector insight is one of his most valuable assets.
Net Worth
While David Barrick's net worth has not been publicly disclosed, his career reflects a trajectory of high-level executive compensation, strategic consulting income, and long-term advisory roles in both public and private sectors.
Achievements
- Appointed Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Brampton, ON, one of Canada’s largest, most diverse and rapidly expanding cities, where he oversaw major budgetary and organizational functions
- Attained career-building Certifications from York University’s Schulich School of Business and Queen’s University Smith School of Business. Subjects included Strategic Analytics, Negotiating and Consensus Building, and Interrupting Bias.
- Appointed Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Municipality of Thames Centre, ON
- Served as an elected City Councillor and Deputy-Mayor for the City of Port Colborne
- Established LookGreenFirst.com, a directory for fostering public-private partnerships with environmentally sustainable companies.
- Served as Interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Senior Director of Corporate Resources in the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
- Elected multiple terms as Regional Councillor for The Regional Municipality of Niagara
- Led complex municipal transformations, including restructuring initiatives, financial turnarounds, and multi-year strategic planning processes
- Featured in multiple professional publications and speaking engagements, sharing insights on innovation in local government, governance reform, and civic leadership
Award recipient from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) and the Ontario Municipal Administrators Association (OMAA)