Heidi Tworek

Professor Heidi Tworek is a Canada Research Chair and Professor of History at the University of British Columbia, where she directs the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions. She serves as co-editor of the Journal of Global History and is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. Her interdisciplinary work bridges historical research with contemporary policy challenges in communications and democracy.

Dr. Tworek's research focuses on how communications technologies affect democracy, both historically and in the present. Her expertise spans the history of media, digital governance, health communications, and foreign interference in democratic processes. She has demonstrated how historical patterns in media power and information ecosystems inform current challenges with digital platforms and disinformation.

Her research output shows consistent engagement with both historical analysis and contemporary policy issues. Recent work examines health misinformation, Canada's digital dependence, and comparative election security challenges, while her foundational scholarship on early 20th century communications infrastructure provides critical historical context for understanding today's digital landscape.

• Elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (2025)
• Canada Research Chair in history and policy of communications
• Regular contributor to major media outlets including Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Politico, CNN, and The New York Times

As an advisor to policymakers globally, Dr. Tworek bridges academic research with practical governance challenges, particularly regarding democratic resilience in the digital age. Her leadership of UBC's Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions positions her at the intersection of historical scholarship and contemporary democratic challenges.