Announcement of new diplomatic appointments - Biographical notes

Catherine Godin (BA Hons [International Relations and History], University of Ottawa, 1993; MA [International Relations], Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University, 1994; MSc [Development Management], London School of Economics and Political Science, 2000) has worked in several federal departments and with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Burundi and Sri Lanka. She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2001. At Headquarters, Ms. Godin has been director general of the Office of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion. She has also served as executive director of the Human Rights and Indigenous Policy Affairs team and director of the Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Response Group. Abroad, she has held various positions, including counsellor and program manager at the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C., and deputy permanent representative at Canada’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

Eric Walsh (BA Hons [Political Science], McGill University, 1994) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1995. During his time at Headquarters, he worked to negotiate the Ottawa Treaty, which bans anti-personnel mines, (1996 to 1997) and served as coordinator, Middle East and North Africa (2003 to 2005); director, North Asia (2007 to 2010); and director general, North America (2018 to 2022), among other positions. His postings overseas included Ankara (1998 to 2001); Bucharest (2001 to 2003); Geneva, as counsellor (disarmament) (2005 to 2007); Berlin, as minister and deputy head of mission (2010 to 2015); and Seoul, as ambassador (2015 to 2018).