July 12, 2013 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today announced the following diplomatic appointments:
Philippe Beaulne becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal.
Andrée Cooligan becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Finland.
David Devine becomes Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Yves Gagnon becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba.
Nicole Giles becomes High Commissioner in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and Representative to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname.
Lisa Helfand becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary.
Deborah Lyons becomes Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Jennifer MacIntyre becomes Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation.
Peter McGovern becomes Ambassador to the Italian Republic and Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of San Marino, and High Commissioner in the Republic of Malta.
Isabelle Poupart becomes Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in Vienna.
Neil Reeder becomes Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines.
Bruno Saccomani becomes Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Iraq.
Stuart Savage becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala, with concurrent accreditation as High Commissioner in Belize.
Biographical notes on the appointees follow.
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Philippe Beaulne (BSc [Political Science], University of Ottawa, 1979; MA [International Relations], University of Ottawa, 1981; Diploma of Business Administration, University of Ottawa, 1989) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1982. Mr. Beaulne worked in Ottawa on Central and Latin American Affairs and in Middle East Affairs, as deputy director for the West and Central Africa Division, and as director for Francophonie Affairs. Mr. Beaulne served abroad in Port-au-Prince (twice), Paris and Dakar. He was ambassador to Guinea and high commissioner in Sierra Leone from 2001 to 2005. Most recently, Mr. Beaulne was ambassador to Romania, with concurrent accreditation to Bulgaria and Moldova. In 2010, he was also appointed personal representative of the prime minister for La Francophonie. He is married to Élizabeth Hilaire Beaulne and they have four children. Mr. Beaulne replaces Perry John Calderwood.
Andrée Cooligan (BA [History, Marketing and French], University of Ottawa 1988, with combined credits from Laval University) joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1991 after working in the airline industry. Ms. Cooligan has served abroad as trade commissioner in Thailand, senior trade commissioner and consul in Turkey and chargé d’affaires and commercial program manager in Finland, where she worked on political as well as commercial and trade policy projects. Ms. Cooligan was stationed in Cyprus and Turkey during the Government of Canada’s evacuation of Canadians from Lebanon. In Ottawa, Ms. Cooligan has held management positions as deputy director and acting director of the Trade Commissioner Overseas Operations Division, the Electronic Services Division and the Regional Offices Division, as well as serving in management positions with the Communications Bureau and as a desk officer for Southeast Asia. Most recently, Ms. Cooligan was the commercial counsellor and senior trade commissioner at Canada’s embassy in Berlin. Ms. Cooligan replaces Chris Shapardanov.
David Devine (BA [Political Science], Memorial University, 1985; Executive MBA, Concordia University, 1988) joined the Department of Manpower and Immigration in 1975 as a project analyst. After working three years in the private sector, he returned to the public service in 1981 to join Supply and Services Canada as an operations analyst. He became chief of research and analysis in 1985 and was later named manager of international, cabinet and parliamentary affairs. In 1989, he transferred to External Affairs and International Trade Canada to work with the Free Trade Agreement Management Branch and the Tariff and Market Access Division, specializing in international trade matters, and was part of Canada’s team of trade negotiators for the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Uruguay Round of the World Trade Organization. He has also led Canadian delegations conducting bilateral investment treaties negotiations worldwide. His previous assignments include serving as director of the Softwood Lumber Division, director of the Trade Consultations and Liaison Division, and senior trade commissioner and investment and innovation counsellor at the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo. Most recently, Mr. Devine was high commissioner in Guyana, ambassador to Suriname and Canadian representative to the Caribbean Community. He is married to Marian (Power) Devine. Mr. Devine replaces Deborah Chatsis.
Yves Gagnon (BA, Laval University, 1968; BSc/Soc [Political Science], Laval University, 1971; National School of Administration, France, 1977) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1971. In Ottawa, Mr. Gagnon has worked in the Corporate and Personnel branches, as deputy director for Central America and Caribbean Affairs, as director of the Media Relations Office and as director general for International Cultural Relations. He has served abroad in Guatemala City and Paris (twice). He was ambassador to Venezuela with concurrent accreditation to the Dominican Republic; to Morocco; and, more recently, to Argentina with concurrent accreditation to Paraguay. Mr. Gagnon also worked as vice-president of Petro-Canada International Assistance Corporation and as senior policy adviser to the minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas and consular affairs). He is married to Patricia Dunberry and has three children. Mr. Gagnon replaces Matthew Levin.
Nicole Giles (BA Honours [Political Science and History], Queen’s University, 1998; MPhil [International Relations], University of Oxford, 2001; DPhil [International Relations], University of Oxford, 2005) worked as a retained lecturer at the University of Oxford’s Wadham College prior to joining Foreign Affairs Canada in 2005. Ms. Giles has worked as a program officer and deputy director with the Nuclear and Radiological Security Division and as director of the Global Partnership Program. She has also published on missile defence and nuclear strategy. Most recently, Ms. Giles was director of the Capacity Building Programs Division. She is married to Brian Giles, and they have one son and one daughter. Ms. Giles replaces David Devine.
Lisa Helfand (LLB, Osgoode Hall Law School, 1985) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1989. In Ottawa, Ms. Helfand served as a desk officer with both the Economic and Trade Policy Division and the Middle East Relations Division. She also worked as a legal officer with the Economic Law Division; as an adviser with the Kosovo Task Force; as a deputy director with the Southern Europe Division; and as a deputy director, then director, with the Defence and Security Relations Division. She served abroad as both third and second secretary in London, first secretary and consul in Belgrade, deputy head of mission in Tel Aviv, and again in London as a political counsellor. Most recently, Ms. Helfand was director of the Peace Operations and Fragile States Policy Division. Ms. Helfand replaces Tamara Guttman.
Deborah Lyons (BSc Honours, University of New Brunswick, 1971; National Defence College, 1993) was a successful small-business owner for seven years prior to joining the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Resources (now Natural Resources Canada) in 1983. In 1986, Ms. Lyons joined the Privy Council Office as a senior policy analyst. From 1987 to 1999, Ms. Lyons worked with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), first as director for business networks, then as director of policy and planning, and lastly as director of trade and technology. During her time with ACOA, she briefly left to join the Department of National Defence and took part in a year-long study program at National Defence College. In 1999, Ms. Lyons joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and was assigned to Tokyo as counsellor for high-tech industries. She returned to Ottawa in 2004 to become director for international finance and then director general of the North America Commercial Bureau. In 2009, she was promoted to assistant deputy minister for policy and planning and filled the new position of chief strategy officer. Most recently, she was deputy head of mission at the embassy in Washington, D.C. Ms. Lyons replaces Glenn Davidson.
Jennifer MacIntyre (BJ, Carleton University, 1997; MPA, Queen’s University, 2008) served as special assistant to the prime minister responsible for international visits and summits before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2003. She was deputy director of the Global Partnership Program until 2006, when she was posted to Washington, D.C., as counsellor (intergovernmental affairs). From 2007 to 2010, she served as counsellor and executive assistant to the ambassador to the United States. In 2011, Ms. MacIntyre returned to Ottawa, where she became director of the Europe and Eurasia Bureau’s Bilateral Relations and Operations Division. Most recently, she was executive adviser with the Europe and Eurasia Bureau. She is married to Michael Fink, and they have two daughters. Ms. MacIntyre replaces Roberta Santi.
Peter McGovern (BA Honours [History], McGill University, 1976) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1982. In Ottawa, Mr. McGovern has held assignments as director of the Team Canada Division, director general of the United States and Mexico Commercial Relations Bureau, director general of both the Asia and the Latin America bureaus, executive director for critical incidents and assistant deputy minister for the Summits Management Office. Abroad, Mr. McGovern has served in Tunis, Tripoli, Brussels (at Canada’s NATO mission) and Paris (with Canada’s delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). He also served as consul general in Milan, Italy, from 2001 to 2005. Most recently, Mr. McGovern was assistant deputy minister for investment, innovation, business development and Asia, as well as the chief trade commissioner. Mr. McGovern was also the prime minister’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Concurrently, Mr. McGovern served as a member of the boards of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Trade Facilitation Office, as well as being a member of the Canadian National Committee for EUREKA. He is married to Sharon, and they have a son, D’Arcy. Mr. McGovern replaces James Fox.
Isabelle Poupart (LLB, University of Montréal, 1992; Quebec Bar, 1993; LLM [International Law], University of Montréal, 1994) worked as a lawyer prior to joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1995. In Ottawa, Ms. Poupart has worked in the Legal Bureau, as well as with divisions covering international economic relations and summits, and defence and security relations. Ms. Poupart’s first assignment abroad was at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York City. She also worked for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Conflict Prevention Centre in Vienna. She has served twice at the Joint Delegation of Canada to the North Atlantic Council (NATO) in Brussels, most recently as head of the Political Section. Most recently, Ms. Poupart was senior adviser to the assistant deputy minister for global issues, strategic policy and Europe. She is married to Dr. Reinhard Bettzüge and has a daughter, Caroline. Ms. Poupart replaces Fredericka Gregory.
Neil Reeder (BA Honours, University of Saskatchewan, 1979; BJ Honours, Carleton University, 1981) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1981. In Ottawa, Mr. Reeder has held assignments in the Arms Control and Disarmament Division, with the Asia-Pacific Division, as director of the Media Relations Office and as director general of the Communications Bureau. Abroad, Mr. Reeder has served in Rabat, Washington, D.C., and Hong Kong. He was high commissioner in Brunei (1999 to 2002), deputy head of mission in Mexico City (2002 to 2005) and ambassador to Costa Rica (2007 to 2010) with concurrent accreditation to Honduras and Nicaragua. Most recently, Mr. Reeder was director general of the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau. He is married to Irene Reeder, and they have three children. Mr. Reeder replaces Christopher Thornley.
Bruno Saccomani (Dawson College, Montréal, 1979) has had a varied career serving with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Mr. Saccomani began his career in 1985 as a criminal investigator in British Columbia. He also held positions in the RCMP Drugs Section and as a senior investigator before being assigned to the prime minister’s security detail in Ottawa in 1996. Following an assignment as special investigator in the Immigration and Passport Division, Mr. Saccomani was promoted to the commissioned ranks of inspector and then prime minister’s travel officer. Mr. Saccomani has served abroad as an assistant liaison officer in both Italy and Thailand. In addition, Mr. Saccomani has been involved in many major international projects, including coordinating police activities in preparation for a G-8 summit in Italy and working with diverse international partners to provide a cohesive security response following the events of September 11, 2001, in the United States. Most recently, Mr. Saccomani was the officer in charge of the prime minister’s protection detail. Mr. Saccomani replaces Mark Gwozdecky.
Stuart Savage (BA [Economics], University of Windsor, 1988; BA Honours [International Relations], University of Windsor, 1989; graduate studies [International History], Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, 1993) was executive director of the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County and coordinator, Global Leaders for Tomorrow, at the World Economic Forum in Geneva prior to joining External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1994. In Ottawa, Mr. Savage has worked with the Inter-American, the Peacebuilding and Human Development, and the Regional Security and Peacekeeping divisions and has served as deputy director with the Southeast Asia and Pacific Division and as director of the Intergovernmental Relations Division. In 1996, Mr. Savage was assigned as a junior adviser to Canada’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City, which preceded assignments in Havana, in Mexico City on an exchange with Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in Madrid as minister-counsellor. Most recently, Mr. Savage was director for consular Case Support and Children’s Issues. Mr. Savage replaces Hugues Rousseau.