Biographical notes

Mylène Paradis (BA [Communications], Laval University, 1991; MA [Journalism], Laval University, 1993) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2002. At Headquarters, she has held positions in the Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force and the Central America and Caribbean Bureau. She has served as chief of staff to the deputy minister of international development and as director in the Global Health and Nutrition Bureau. Abroad, she was posted to Madrid from 2005 to 2008. Throughout her career, she has undertaken secondments in various departments, including the Privy Council Office, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Health Canada. Most recently, she was director general of the Canadian Partnerships for Health and Social Development Bureau at Global Affairs Canada.

Marianick Tremblay (BBA [Civil and International Law], University of Sherbrooke, 1989; LLB, University of Sherbrooke, 1990) was admitted to the Barreau du Québec [Quebec bar] in 1990 and joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1993. At Headquarters, she has been legal counsel in the Environmental Law Division, coordinator of the Human Security Program and senior legal counsel on small arms. Ms. Tremblay has also held the positions of deputy director of the Brazil and Southern Cone Section, as well as director of hemispheric affairs, which included relations with the Organization of American States and coordinating the Canadian delegation’s participation at the Summit of the Americas. From 2018 to 2021, she was director general for Canadian engagement in the Partnerships for Development Innovation Branch. She has had several postings overseas, including in Mexico (1995 to 1998), Morocco (2001 to 2005) and Chile (2007 to 2010), and was ambassador to El Salvador (2010 to 2012), Ecuador (2015 to 2018) and Colombia (2021 to 2024).

Craig Weichel (BA Hons [History], Wilfrid Laurier University, 1994; MA [History], McMaster University, 1996) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1998. At Headquarters, he has worked in the U.S. General Relations, Northern Europe, Non-proliferation and Disarmament (Nuclear) and United Nations divisions. He has also served as director of the Natural Disaster Response and Civilian Security Policy Division and the North Korea Task Force. From 2007 to 2009, he was president of the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers. Overseas, he has served in New York City at Canada’s mission to the UN, Vienna with Canada’s delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Rome and, most recently, Washington, D.C., where he headed the embassy’s Environment and Energy program.

Brenda Wills (BComm Hons, University of Manitoba, 2003; MSc [Sustainable Development], University of Sussex, 2021) is Red River Métis from Manitoba and joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2004. Her first assignment abroad was to Washington, D.C., as second secretary (trade policy). Subsequently, she served as first secretary (commercial) in Chile, as senior trade commissioner and counsellor (commercial) in Colombia and as counsellor (trade policy) in Mexico City. At Headquarters, she has worked in the Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch, first on negotiations with the European Union and the European Free Trade Association and later on the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations as deputy director for communications and stakeholder engagement. She has also worked as chief of staff to the assistant deputy minister for international business development and chief trade commissioner of Canada. Most recently, she served as senior trade commissioner and counsellor (commercial) in Singapore.