Biographical notes

 
Lorraine Anderson (BA Spec. Hons [Political Science], York University, 1993; LLB, Osgoode Hall Law School, 1996; LLM, Columbia Law School, 2000) began her career as counsel with the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario in the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. She then worked for the UN Country Team in Liberia and Guyana, providing coordination, programming, legal services and support on human rights, governance, women, peace and security, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, and gender equality to the UN and host countries in both post-conflict and development contexts (2005 to 2008). She joined Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in 2009. At Headquarters, she worked in the Human Rights and Governance Policy Division (2009 to 2012), in the Oceans and Environmental Law Division (2012 to 2016) and as chief of staff to Canada’s ambassador for women, peace and security (2020 to 2021). She also served abroad as the legal adviser to Canada’s permanent mission to the UN in Geneva (2016 to 2020). Most recently, she worked for the Canadian Human Rights Commission as the director of the Employment Equity Division (2021 to 2022).

Colin Bird (ALB Hons [Government Studies], Harvard University, 1994; LLB Hons, University of Ottawa, 2003) joined Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in 2009. He has served as counsel to the NAFTA Secretariat and in the department’s Trade Law Bureau, where he focused on trade remedies and aerospace and softwood lumber trade issues, and he was a director in the North America Bureau of the Trade Negotiations Branch. Until 2019, Mr. Bird served as minister-counsellor for trade and economic policy at the embassy in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for all aspects of the United States-Canada trade relationship, including the 2 countries’ cooperation in multilateral forums. He has also represented Canada before dispute settlement panels and the Appellate Body at the World Trade Organization. Most recently, he was the executive director in the Trade Policy Branch responsible for multilateral trade matters, particularly Canada’s membership in the World Trade Organization, and served as Canada’s senior trade official at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, where he chaired the Trade Committee, and at the G7 and G20.  

Sylvia Cesaratto (BAdmin, Concordia University, 1987) joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1992. At Headquarters, Ms. Cesaratto has led teams that have developed strategic initiatives for the Trade Commissioner Service, provided policy advice on advancing bilateral relations with countries in South America and developed recommendations and strategies on enhancing relations with Canada’s North American neighbours: Mexico and the United States. In 1993, she had her first posting abroad, which was as trade commissioner in Johannesburg following the lifting of economic sanctions on South Africa and the reopening of the trade office. Other overseas assignments have included serving as first secretary (commercial) in London and commercial counsellor in Brussels. From 2011 to 2015, she was Canada’s ambassador to Panama. Ms. Cesaratto was most recently the director general for Central America and Caribbean relations.

Susan Harper (BA Hons [Math and English], Queen’s University, 1975; MBA, Ivey School of Business, Western University, 1983). Prior to joining the Department of External Affairs in 1983, Ms. Harper taught at both Cambrian College, in Sudbury, and George Brown College, in Toronto. At Headquarters, she was director general, trade controls and technical barriers, from 2009 to 2013 and then director general and senior Arctic official from 2013 to 2016. Abroad, she held trade positions in Yaoundé, Paris and Buenos Aires before becoming ambassador to Uruguay from 2001 to 2004. She was posted to the embassy in Washington, D.C., where she served as minister (economic) from 2008 to 2009. Most recently, she served as consul general in Miami.

Isabelle Martin (BA [Political Science], Laval University, 1992; MA [International Relations], Graduate School of International Studies, Laval University, 1995) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1996. At Headquarters, she was director of Diplomatic Corps Services and deputy chief of Protocol from 2010 to 2013, and special adviser on national security issues at Global Affairs Canada until 2018. From 2008 to 2010, she was on assignment at the Privy Council Office. Overseas, she served in several positions from 1998 to 2008, including in Cairo, Abu Dhabi and London. From 2018 to 2022, she was the political program manager in Canberra. 

Kyle Nunas (BJ, Carleton University, 1994) joined Canadian Heritage in 1994. He served in a variety of functions, including managing communications for sport and for international and intergovernmental affairs. He managed Government of Canada communications in the lead-up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. In 2006, he joined International Trade Canada. From 2007 to 2012, he served as director of the communications services division, where he led the marketing program for the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. From 2014 to 2017, he served as director for aerospace, automotive, defence, and information and communication technologies in the Trade Sectors Bureau. Overseas, he served as Canada’s first consul and senior trade commissioner in Bengaluru from 2012 to 2014 and as consul general in Ho Chi Minh City from 2017 to 2020. Most recently, he served as acting director general of the Trade Sectors Bureau.

Radha Krishna Panday (BA [Economics and Political Science], University of Toronto, 1984; MA [Economics], University of Toronto, 1987) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1986. Headquarters assignments have included director, Softwood Lumber Division, (2004 to 2006) and executive assistant to the deputy minister of international trade (2001 to 2004). He was seconded to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada from 2015 to 2018 as director general, Market Access Secretariat, with responsibility for the management of bilateral relations and international market access and development activities. Overseas assignments have included Singapore, as trade commissioner (1989 to 1992); Seoul, as counsellor (market access) (1996 to 1999); Washington, D.C., as minister-counsellor (Congressional relations) (2006 to 2009); Dubai, as Canada’s first consul general in the city (2009 to 2012); and Beijing as minister (commercial) (2012 to 2015). In his most recent assignment, he served as executive director on the Board of the Asian Development Bank (2018 to 2022).