Biographical notes

Hugh Adsett (BA, Mount Allison University, 1987; MA [Journalism], University of Western Ontario, 1988; LLB, Queen’s University, 1993) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1995. At Headquarters, he worked in the Peacebuilding Division and the Human Rights Law section in the Legal Affairs Bureau and served as deputy director of the Environmental Law section; director of the Criminal, Security and Diplomatic Law Division; and director of the United Nations, Human Rights and Economic Law Division. In 2013, he served as director general and deputy legal adviser of the Legal Affairs Bureau, and in 2016, as legal adviser. In 2017, he served as director general of the Foreign Policy Bureau. Abroad, Mr. Adsett served in Addis Ababa as third secretary from 1998 to 2000 and at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations, in New York City, as counsellor of legal, economic and social affairs from 2004 to 2008.

Madeleine Chenette (BA [Recreation and Leisure Studies], Concordia University, 1985; MSc [Science Administration], HEC Montréal, Montréal, 1993) has had an extensive career in the private sector, lending her consulting expertise to global and national clients across a wide range of industries, including finance, digital, retail, industrial, communication, transport and the public sector. Ms. Chenette joined SECOR INC. in 1994 and occupied various positions until becoming partner in 2000. Between 1999-2003, Ms. Chenette was Global Head of Transformation. Subsequently, Ms. Chenette led the evolution of the firm becoming Global Head of SECOR Business Solutions from 2005-2009. Subsequently, she served as Chair of the Board of SECOR Group and in 2011 as a board member of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated tour operator. In 2012, she led the transaction between KPMG Canada and SECOR and became Partner and Head National Strategy Advisory Services. She joined Accenture in 2017 as Executive of the Canadian Management Committee - Montreal Products Industry Lead and Office Managing Director – overseeing strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations services. Ms. Chenette has been recognized by Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award in 2018 for the Corporate Executive category, among other awards. Ms. Chenette is a certified corporate director from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Ariel Delouya (BA [Political Science], McGill University, 1984; MA [International Relations], Carleton University, 1992) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1986. At Headquarters, he served as deputy director of the International Economic Relations and Summits Division from 1996 to 1998, director of the Policy Research Division from 2006 to 2009, executive director of the Mission Inspections Division from 2012 to 2014 and director general of the Engaging Canadians Bureau from 2014 to 2018. He also worked at the Privy Council Office from 1998 to 2002 as a foreign policy adviser and as chief of staff to the Clerk of the Privy Council. Abroad, he served in Ankara as second secretary and vice-consul from 1987 to 1989 and in Washington, D.C., as minister-counsellor of congressional and legal affairs from 2002 to 2006. From 2009 to 2012, he served as Canada’s ambassador to Tunisia.

Rachel McCormick (BA Hons [Economics; Land Use and Environmental Studies], University of Saskatchewan, 1997; PhD [Environmental Science], University of Calgary, 2004) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2004. At Headquarters, she worked in divisions responsible for sustainable development, energy, climate change and circumpolar affairs and she represented the Government of Canada in a range of international forums, including the Arctic Council, the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation and the United Nations. Abroad, Ms. McCormick served in Washington, D.C., from 2014 to 2019, as head of the Energy and Environment Section. Previously, she held positions within the Canadian energy sector and at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

Leslie E. Norton (Diploma [Civilization and Literature], Aix-Marseille III University, 1985; BA Hons [English and French Literature], University of Western Ontario, 1988; MA [International Relations], Laval University, 1992) began her career in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and then worked for many years at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in a range of positions in the Africa, Asia and Multilateral branches, including serving in Bangladesh and at the Permanent Mission of Canada in Geneva. At Headquarters, she served as director of the International Humanitarian Assistance and Food Aid unit at CIDA from 2006 to 2008 and as director of the Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Response Group at DFAIT from 2008 to 2009. She served as director general of the International Humanitarian Assistance Bureau from 2009 to 2015 and as director general of the Southern and Eastern Africa Bureau from 2015 to 2016. She has served as assistant deputy minister of Sub-Saharan Africa Branch from 2016 to 2019.