Biographical notes – Diplomatic appointments

André François Giroux (LLB [Civil Law], University of Montréal, 1992; LLM [International Business Law], McGill University, 1994; LLM [European Community Law], College of Europe, 1995; MBA, University of Montréal, 2001) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1995. He served abroad at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (1996 to 1999), in part during Canada’s term on the UN Security Council; as counsellor at the Embassy to France (2004 to 2008); as ambassador to Denmark (2012 to 2016); and as consul general in Sydney (2020 to 2023). In Canada, he has had assignments in the International Trade Law Bureau, International Economic Relations and Summits Division and Office of Protocol. He was director of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Division (2008 to 2010), director and chief of staff in the Office of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2010 to 2012) and NAFTA secretary and director of the Trade Agreements Secretariat (2017 to 2020). Most recently, he served as ambassador to Haiti (2023 to 2026).

Richard Le Bars (BA [Social Science], University of Ottawa, 1991; MA [International Development], University Institute of Development Studies, 1996) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1999. At Headquarters, he has served as deputy director of the Peacekeeping and Peace Operations Policy Group in Canada’s Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force. He has also served in several capacities with the geographic desk in the Africa Bureau and the Human Rights, Humanitarian and International Women’s Equality Division. Overseas, he has held the positions of political counsellor in Haiti and Indonesia as well as Canada’s mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He has also held positions as the counsellor (political) and deputy permanent representative to the UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat in Kenya and has also been posted to Ethiopia. Most recently, he was counsellor (political) in Cameroon.  

Jeffrey Senior (BA Hons [Political Studies and History], University of Saskatchewan, 1992; MA [Political Studies], University of Saskatchewan, 1994; MA [Philosophy], University of Calgary, 1997) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2000. At Headquarters, he has worked as deputy director for the Eastern and Southern Africa Division, the Sudan and South Sudan Task Force and the Peacekeeping Policy and Operations Division. Overseas, he has served at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, as well as in Cuba, South Sudan, Mali, Haiti and Thailand. Most recently, he was director of the Stabilization and Peace Support Operations Division.