October 24, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today announced the following diplomatic appointments:
Heather Cruden becomes High Commissioner in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Sidney Frank becomes Consul General in Bangalore (Republic of India).
Philip Pinnington becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, with concurrent accreditation to Montenegro and to the Republic of Macedonia.
Biographical notes follow.
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Heather Cruden (BA [English Literature], Queen’s University, 1985; MA [Museum Studies], University of Toronto, 1987; MPA, Queen’s University, 1988) was executive director of a non-governmental organization providing child care services prior to joining Transport Canada in 1992. At Transport Canada, she worked as an analyst and acted as chief, planning and coordination, for the team that negotiated the privatization of Canada’s air navigation system. In 1996, Ms. Cruden joined the Canadian International Development Agency as a senior development officer in the North Africa and Middle East Branch and was later named senior program manager for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States/Jamaica. While in Ottawa, Ms. Cruden also worked as a senior adviser in the Office of the Solicitor General, as analyst for global affairs at the Privy Council Office, and as a director general at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Abroad, Ms. Cruden has served as head of aid in Accra, in Baghdad and in Ramallah and in 2009 became head of aid and minister-counsellor in Kabul. In 2011 she became high commissioner in Bangladesh. Ms. Cruden replaces Greg Giokas.
Sidney Frank (Diploma in Education, McGill University, 1984; BA [General Arts], University of Toronto, 1997) joined the International Division of Citizenship and Immigration Canada in 1992 and was posted first to Manila. Subsequently, Mr. Frank served as second secretary (immigration) in Beijing, first secretary (immigration) and deputy program manager in Hong Kong, and counsellor (immigration) in New Delhi. He then returned to Beijing as counsellor (immigration) and then minister (immigration), program manager and North Asia area director. Mr. Frank returned to Ottawa and served from 2000 to 2002 as manager of the Centralized Processing Pilot Project. In 2011 he began his second posting in New Delhi, where he held the title of minister (immigration) and South Asia regional director. Mr. Frank is married to Ivy Lerner-Frank, a trade commissioner currently posted to New Delhi. They have two children, Joshua and Simon.
Philip H. Pinnington (BA, University of Toronto, 1981; MA [International Relations], University of Toronto, 1985) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1986. In Ottawa, Mr. Pinnington has served in many different capacities, including as deputy director of the International Crime Division, deputy director (political) of the Assignments Division, director of the Bilateral Relations and Operations Division in the Europe and Eurasia Bureau, and director in the Office of Transformation. Abroad, Mr. Pinnington has served as second secretary in Bridgetown, counsellor (political and public affairs) in Dublin and counsellor (political) at the Canadian mission to NATO in Brussels. In 2013 Mr. Pinnington joined the transition team managing the amalgamation of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency. He is married to Erica Pinnington, and they have three adult children. Mr. Pinnington replaces Roman Waschuk.
