Biographical notes

Richard Bale (BA [English Literature], University of British Columbia, 1977; BA Hons [French Language and Linguistics], Laval University, 1981; MA [Development Administration], Carleton University, 1988) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1986 after having worked in northern Nigeria with CUSO from 1981 to 1983. At Headquarters, he worked in various positions, including in Asian and North American Affairs. Overseas, he served in both trade and development positions in Stockholm and Moscow and as senior trade commissioner in Islamabad, Manila, Taipei and Jakarta. He also served as consul general in Mumbai from 2013 to 2015 and in Ho Chi Minh City from 2015 to 2017.

Alan Bowman (BA Hons [Economics], McGill University, 1991; DEA [Applied Economics], Institut d’études politiques de Paris, 1993; MSc [Economics], Université de Montréal, 1994) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1996. At Headquarters, he served as deputy director of the International Economic Relations and Summits Division from 2001 to 2004, director of the Asia-Pacific Policy Division from 2004 to 2005, director of the Regional Strategy Division from 2005 to 2006 and director of the Foreign Policy Research Division from 2011 to 2014. He also served a two-year term as chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Committee on Trade and Investment in 2004 and 2005 and had an assignment with the Privy Council Office from 2010 to 2011. Abroad, he served in Bangkok from 1997 to 2000 and in New York City at the permanent mission to the UN from 2006 to 2010. Most recently, he was the minister-counsellor and deputy head of mission at the mission to the EU in Brussels as well as the permanent observer of Canada to the Council of Europe.

Jamal Khokhar (BA Hons [Political Science], McGill University, 1983; Diploma [International Development], University of Ottawa, 1984) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1986. At Headquarters, he served as deputy director of the Economic and Trade Policy Division, executive assistant to the deputy minister for international trade, and director general of the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau. Abroad, he served in Lagos and São Paulo. He also served in Washington, D.C., as deputy head of the Trade and Economic Policy Section and then minister-counsellor and head of the Congressional and Legal Affairs Section. From 2002 to 2003, he was a fellow of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. In 2006, he was appointed chief of staff to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C. From 2008 to 2010, he was the regional director general for the Americas at the Canadian International Development Agency before serving as ambassador to Brazil from 2010 to 2015. Most recently, he was president and CEO of the Institute of the Americas in La Jolla.