- Name: Patrick Robitaille
- Age: 42
- Current location: Montreal, Canada
- Home town: Montreal, Canada
- Education: Master’s Degree, Political Science, UQAM, Canada.
- Current position: Director of Programs and International Development, Médecins du Monde
- Organization description: Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World), was founded by 15 French doctors in 1980, and provides emergency and long-term medical care to the world’s most vulnerable populations, with 4,000 volunteers globally.
- Bio: Patrick has more than 13 years of experience in the field of international aid. He has participated in nearly 30 missions in more than 12 countries on four continents. He has worked for Médecins Sans Frontières, the Red Cross and CARE, both as a manager in the field and as an advisor and program manager at their headquarters. He has also worked as a consultant for humanitarian organizations, specializing in needs assessments, programs and training. Patrick holds a BA in communication and marketing from Université de Montréal and an MA in Political Science from UQAM.
- Countries I've worked in: Haiti, Chad, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Kenya, DR Congo, Jordan, Pakistan, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Mali, Philipines, Iraq, Djibouti
- Sector / subsectors: International Development, International Aid, Humanitarian Aid, Medicine.
- Areas of expertise: Humanitarian Response, Program Management, International Aid
- Country: Canada, Chad, Colombia, Cuba, DR Congo, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Zimbabwe
- Region: North America, Caribbean, South America, Africa, Middle East, Asia
- Sector: Health, Humanitarian, International development
- Degree subject: Political science
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Tell us who you are and what you do.
Meet Patrick Robitaille, Director of Operations for Medecins du Monde.
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Tell us briefly about how you got into this line of work.Patrick loved dealing with logistics, whether it was for events in Montreal or humanitarian aid around the world.
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You’ve been in the humanitarian aid sector for many years. How has it changed?Patricks talks to us about climate change, terrorism, and technology.
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How has it changed as far as the education or skill sets needed to succeed?Patricks talks to us about technical skills, and increased diversity.
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You seem to be hinting at the need for flexibility. What do you look for when you’re hiring in this field?You seem to be hinting at the need for flexibility. What do you look for when you’re hiring in this field?
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What can a young person do now to set themselves up to stand out as a candidate in this sector?Find out why Patrick says you should travel, but with one very important caveat.
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You have a master’s degree. Talk to us about advanced degrees in this sector; are they necessary? Do you have advice?
Find out Patrick says you should do before you start a Master’s.
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How does one make the change from travelling to travelling ‘with purpose’?Patrick breaks down “the first step”, and the importance of finding meaningful experiences.
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For those who can’t get abroad, are experiences within Canada of the same value as international experience?Life experience = international experience.
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Do you have tips as far as networking goes in this sector?Patrick tells us how the humanitarian sector approaches networking differs from the business sector.
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Talk to us about the various different fields within this sector.It’s a complex landscape that can be as big or as small as you want.
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Are there misconceptions about humanitarian work?It’s not a “sexy” job.
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Are there common mistakes that newcomers to this field often make?Pre-made solutions probably aren’t going to work.
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What skills can young people in post-secondary education start building to give themselves an edge?Find out Patrick says you should be doing in school that’s more important than getting a slightly better grade on your next test.
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If you want to work in international development, do you need a degree in international development?Think of your degree as a frame that is waiting to be filled.
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How can someone prepare for an interview in this sector?Know your shortcomings and what will be challenging for you.
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Any other advice for someone looking to build a career in this field?Patrick remind us that we’re so concerned with getting abroad that few people forget about what happens when you get home.
