Biographical notes

David Da Silva (BA Joint Hons [Geography and Political Science], McGill University, 2000; MSc [Urban Geography], London School of Economics, 2001) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2002. At Headquarters, he has worked in the bilateral relations divisions for Southeast Asia and for Eastern and Southern Africa, as well as the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament division. He has also served as director of the department’s Results and Delivery Unit. Abroad, Mr. Da Silva has completed postings in Manila, Beirut (2 postings), Caracas and, most recently, Nairobi, as political counsellor at the High Commission in Kenya.

Louis Marcotte (MA [Political Science], Paris II University, 1990; MSc [International Management], Laval University, 1994) joined the public service in 1994 through a management development program. In 2001, he was appointed director of marketing in the Trade Commissioner Service of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade before going on assignment to Caracas as senior trade commissioner. Upon his return, he served as director of commercial relations with Europe for 2 years and then was promoted to director general of the Locally Engaged Staff Bureau. He served as executive director to the chief trade commissioner from 2011 to 2013 and then as director general, investment and innovation. In 2017, he was appointed as Canada’s chief air negotiator and, in 2020, director general and dean of the Canadian Foreign Service Institute.