Biographical notes

Alexandre Bilodeau (BA [Political Science], University of Montréal, 1996; MSc Hons [History of International Relations], London School of Economics, 1998) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in April 2001. At Headquarters, he was deputy director for non-proliferation and disarmament from 2015 to 2018. Abroad, he held positions as political counsellor in the West Bank and Gaza from 2008 to 2011 and in Tunisia from 2011 to 2013. He also served in Washington, D.C., from 2013 to 2015 on secondment to the U.S. State Department. More recently, from 2017 to 2022, M. Bilodeau was Canada’s deputy permanent representative to the International Organizations in Vienna. On his return to Ottawa in 2022, he became director of relations with the Maghreb. Most recently, he was senior departmental adviser to the minister of foreign affairs.

Anderson Blanc (BA Hons [Business Administration], University of Quebec in Montréal, 2002; MA [Business Administration], Laval University, 2015) was a delinquency counsellor at the Centre Jeunesse de Montréal—Institut Universitaire [Montréal youth centre—university institute] for many years before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2003. At Headquarters, he served as deputy director (policy and trade) and senior adviser in the Haiti and Dominican Republic Division from 2014 to 2017. Abroad, he served in Thailand from 2006 to 2009. He was counsellor at the High Commission in Ghana from 2017 to 2019 and counsellor (commercial) for Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal from 2019 to 2020. From 2022 to 2025, he was ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.

Natalie Britton (BCom [International Business and Political Science], McGill University, 2005; MA [Political Science], University of Ottawa, 2010) joined Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in 2008. At Headquarters, she has served in the Canada-United States Relations Division; as coordinator of the Dubai Process, a facilitated Afghanistan-Pakistan border dialogue, in the Afghanistan Task Force; and in the Eastern Europe and Eurasia Division. Overseas, she has served as counsellor (political affairs) in Moscow, Russia, with accreditation to Armenia and Uzbekistan, and as counsellor (political affairs) and chargé d’affaires in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with accreditation to Bahrain, Oman and Yemen. Most recently, she was deputy director in the United Nations Division at Headquarters.

Sandra Choufani (BA [Law], Sherbrooke University, 2000; MA [International Relations], Laval University, 2004) joined the Canadian International Development Agency in 2003. At Headquarters, she has worked in several geographic branches, including in relation to the Balkans, Iraq, Haiti and Myanmar, and as senior adviser to the director general of assignments and executive management. Abroad, she held several positions in Kandahar and in Ramallah and was head of cooperation in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2013 to 2017. Most recently, she was appointed ambassador to Mongolia in October 2023.

Christian DesRoches (BA Hons [History], University of Ottawa, 1998; MA [History], Laval University, 2001) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2006. At Headquarters, he has worked in a variety of roles, including in the Office of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation unit, the United Nations Division and the Afghanistan Task Force. From 2020 to 2022, he was seconded to the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat of the Privy Council Office. Overseas, he has served in New Zealand and Nigeria. Most recently, he served as head of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Secretariat.

Ambra Dickie (BA [Political Science], Simon Fraser University, 2004; MA [Political Science], Dalhousie University, 2005) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2006. During her time at Headquarters, Ms. Dickie has served as departmental spokesperson in the Media Relations Office and in the Afghanistan Task Force and as senior adviser in the Defence and Security Relations Division. Abroad, she has been posted to Canada’s embassies in Brasilia and Tokyo. Most recently, since 2022, Ms. Dickie served as Canada’s high commissioner in Brunei.

Stephen Doust (BA [East Asian Area Studies], University of British Columbia, 1991; LLB, University of Toronto, 1996) practised law in Vancouver, British Columbia, before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1999. At Headquarters, he has worked in the Legal Division, where his duties included heading the Canadian delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Working Group on Bribery. He has also worked as deputy director in the Central America and Caribbean Division, including time as acting director, as deputy director in the Intergovernmental Affairs Division and as deputy director in the Hemispheric Policy Division. He has served in Tokyo; in Port of Spain; in Washington, D.C., at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States; and in Guangzhou. Most recently, he served in Tokyo, again, from 2020 to 2025.

Gregory Galligan (BA Hons [Political Studies and History], Queen’s University, 2002; MA [International Relations], King’s College London, 2004) joined Foreign Affairs Canada in 2005. At Headquarters, he has worked in the Nuclear Non-proliferation Division (2006 to 2007), the Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force (2013 to 2014), as deputy director on Gulf state relations responsible for Iran and Iraq (2014 to 2015) and as director of foreign affairs strategic communications (2016 to 2019), including time as acting director general for public affairs (2017 to 2018). Overseas, he participated in the evacuation of Canadians from Lebanon (2006) and served at the Embassy to Israel (2007 to 2010), as deputy director with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (2010 to 2011), as Canada’s exchange officer to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (2011 to 2013), as Canada’s executive coordinator for Syria based in Beirut (2019 to 2021) and as ambassador to Iraq (2021 to 2023). Most recently, he was executive director of the Middle East Division, responsible for Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen and regional sanctions.

Alison Grant (BA Hons [Political Studies], Queen’s University, 1994; MA [International Affairs], Carleton University, 1997) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1998. At Headquarters, she has held positions in the North American and Euro-Atlantic Security and Defence Relations Division and in the Mine Action Team. From 2009 to 2011, she served as deputy director in the division responsible for Russia and Belarus, and for Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. In 2012, she was appointed chief of staff to the associate deputy minister of foreign affairs. She has also served as director of the Eastern Europe and Eurasia Division and executive director of the Security and Defence Relations Division. Overseas, she has served at the Permanent Mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in Vienna; the Embassy to Russia; the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City; and the Embassy to Brazil. Most recently, she was director general for international security policy and strategic affairs, as well as deputy political director.

Marie-Claude Harvey (BBA [Business Administration], Bishop’s University, 1998) joined the Canadian International Development Agency in 1999. With nearly 15 years of expertise in African affairs, she has held several key positions at Headquarters, including director of development for Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Chad and the Sahel. She has also served as manager for the Industrial Cooperation Program, senior development officer for Central America, senior analyst for the Mali program, political officer for West Africa, chief of staff to the assistant deputy minister for Africa and deputy director for the Ghana and Haiti programs. Abroad, she worked at the High Commission in Ghana (2017 to 2020).

Patrick Hébert (BA [Political Science], Laval University, 1994; MA [Political Science], Laval University, 1996) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1998. At Headquarters, he has worked in the Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Response Group, the Defence and Security Relations Division and the Francophonie Affairs Division. He has served in several positions abroad, including in France, Serbia and the Republic of Korea. He was a political counsellor in Sweden during the back-to-back Arctic Council chairships of Sweden (2011 to 2013) and Canada (2013 to 2015). He was appointed consul general in Chandigarh in 2021. Most recently, Mr. Hébert served as deputy high commissioner in India.

Jean-Dominique Ieraci (BEng [Industrial Engineering], Montréal Polytechnic University, 1992) joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1993. At Headquarters, he has occupied various functions, notably in customer service in the Trade Commissioner Service, human resources and media relations. More recently, he was director general of the Trade Sectors Bureau. Abroad, he served in the Republic of Korea (1994 to 1998), Syria (2000 to 2002), Singapore (2005 to 2008), France (2008 to 2013) and Mexico (2016 to 2021). From 2021 to 2025, he was high commissioner in Singapore.

Tarik Ali Khan (BA [English], University of Toronto, 1991; MSc [International Rural Development Planning], University of Guelph, 1998) worked at Canadian Heritage before joining the Canadian International Development Agency in 2005. At Headquarters, his positions have included director, democratic institutions and conflict; director of the Haiti Development Program; director general for pan-African affairs; director general for West and Central Africa; director general for Central America and the Caribbean; and executive director to the deputy minister of international development. He served in diplomatic postings abroad as counsellor, director of cooperation, in China (2008 to 2010) and Colombia (2012 to 2016) and, most recently, as ambassador to Jordan (2022 to 2025).

Craig Kowalik (BA Hons [International Development], University of Guelph, 2001; MA [International Affairs], Carleton University, 2004), following 5 years of managing programs at the Parliamentary Centre, joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2007. At Headquarters, he has worked on democracy and human rights, on the G8/G20 policy team, as a chief of staff to the deputy minister of international development and as a director general and deputy chief transformation officer. Mr. Kowalik was also an analyst for G8 and G20 summits and relations with Europe at the Privy Council Office. He has served overseas on temporary duties in Afghanistan and Cambodia, on secondment as an assistant private secretary to the Prince of Wales in London, United Kingdom, as a political counsellor in Venezuela and as a director of cooperation in Colombia.

Philippe Lafortune (BA [Political Science] University of Montréal, 2001; MA [International Relations], Laval University, 2005) joined Global Affairs Canada in 2022. He began his career in the federal public service in 2004 at the Department of National Defence, where he was a policy officer. From 2004 to 2009, he held several positions related to Canadian defence policy. In 2009, he was posted to the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York City, where he worked on peacekeeping issues. In 2013, he became acting director of NATO Policy, managing Canadian defence policy issues related to the alliance and Canada’s bilateral defence relations with European countries. In 2018, Mr. Lafortune became deputy director general of the International Security Policy Bureau. In 2020, he joined the Privy Council Office as director of Strategic Policy and Planning, National Security and Intelligence. Most recently, he was director general of the Intelligence Bureau at Global Affairs Canada.

Jean-Paul Lemieux (BA [Political Science and History], Queen’s University, 1995; MA [Public Administration], Carleton University,1999) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1997. At Headquarters, he has served as director general, assignments and executive management; executive director, assignments and pool management; director, South America bilateral relations; special advisor to the Free Trade Agreement Promotion Task Force; and director of the Trade Commissioner Service Planning and Client Service Support Division. Abroad, he has served in Geneva, where he was accredited to the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and in Brussels, where he was counsellor (commercial) and head of section at the Mission to the European Union. He has also worked in Santiago as a commercial officer. He most recently served as executive adviser, rotational workforce initiatives.

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. From 2008 to 2010, she was seconded to the Privy Council Office. At Headquarters, she was director of the Diplomatic Corps Services Division and deputy chief of protocol from 2010 to 2013, then special adviser on national security issues until 2018. Overseas, she served in several positions from 1998 to 2008, including in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. From 2018 to 2022, she was deputy high commissioner in charge of political affairs in Australia and 7 of the Pacific Island States. Most recently, she was ambassador to Qatar.

Karim Morcos (BA [Political Science], McGill University, 1999; MA [Political Science], College of Europe, 2000) joined the Canadian International Development Agency in 2001. At Headquarters, he has held positions in the Africa and Middle East bureaus, including as deputy director for Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq (2009 to 2012). Abroad, Mr. Morcos served at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York City (2002), in Beijing as second secretary (2007 to 2009), in Ramallah as head of cooperation and counsellor (2012 to 2015), in Kyiv as director and counsellor for the Ukraine Development Program (2015 to 2019) and in Washington, D.C., as senior adviser at the World Bank (2019 to 2022). Mr. Morcos was also a senior analyst at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (2004 to 2007), in Paris, working on conflict and development issues. Most recently, he was executive director for Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

James Nickel (BA [History], 1983, and BEd, 1985, University of Regina; MA [International Relations], 1992, Carleton University) joined the Department of External Affairs and International Trade in 1991. At Headquarters, he has worked in the Arms Control and Disarmament Division, in the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Division, as deputy director of the Japan Division, as director of the South Asia Division, as senior adviser to the minister of foreign affairs and as director general of the North America Bureau. Overseas, Mr. Nickel has served in Japan and in Indonesia and as deputy head of mission in India and in China. Most recently, he was head of mission in the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.

Tara Scheurwater (BA Hons [Political Science], Carleton University, 1994; MA [Political Science], University of Toronto, 1998) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2000. She has worked in various positions at Headquarters, including as senior adviser for Strategic Policy and Planning, senior trade commissioner for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut while based in Edmonton and director of the department’s regional office in Manitoba and Saskatchewan while based in Winnipeg. Her experience overseas includes serving as senior trade commissioner in Osaka (2002 to 2006) and Mumbai (2016 to 2019). In between these postings, she took leave from the foreign service to serve as a senior administrator at a Canadian university. Ms. Scheurwater served as consul general in Istanbul before becoming ambassador to Kuwait.

Nicolas Simard (BA, University of Quebec in Montréal, 1996; MA, University of Quebec in Montréal, 2000) joined the Canadian International Development Agency in 2004 through the Recruitment of Policy Leaders Program. At Headquarters, he has worked on aid policies for fragile states, conflict prevention and peacebuilding in developing countries. More recently, Mr. Simard has held executive and management positions in the Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb branches. Abroad, he has served as counsellor at the High Commission in Bangladesh, as well as director of Planning and Evaluation at the International Organisation of La Francophonie, in Paris, and chief of staff to the administrator of the organization. He also served as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2017 to 2020) and to Mali (2023 to 2025).

Joshua Tabah (BA Hons [Philosophy], University of Ottawa, 1996; PhD [Philosophy], University of Toronto, 2002) joined the Canadian International Development Agency in 2003. At Headquarters, he has worked on multilateral and humanitarian issues, as director general for growth, governance and innovation partnerships and as director general for health and nutrition, which included leading Canada’s international assistance response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overseas, he served as head of cooperation at the Embassy to Colombia (2008 to 2012), as counsellor for humanitarian affairs at the Permanent Mission in Geneva (2012 to 2016) and, most recently, as ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti (2023 to 2025) and ambassador-designate to Sudan (2024 to 2025).

Kent Vachon (BA Hons [History and Political Studies], Queen’s University, 1988; Graduate Diploma, School of Advanced International Studies Bologna Center, 1990) joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1991. At Headquarters, he has worked in the Central America and Caribbean Relations Division; as Cabinet liaison officer; in the Southeast Asia Relations Division; as the executive assistant to the assistant deputy minister (Asia-Pacific and Africa); as deputy director for policy planning; and as deputy director in the International Crime and Terrorism Division. Abroad, he has served at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City, in the Philippines, in Italy and in France (Permanent Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Most recently, he was chargé d’affaires and head of office in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.