Media Room

Appointment of New Secretary General

Hélène Goulet has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Canadian Human Rights Commission effective December 11.

Ms. Goulet’s senior executive career has spanned a number of roles, federal departments and agencies. She began her federal public service career in 1987 and she has spent eight years with the Department of Justice in various assignments. These include work on human rights law and, on assignment, as Director General, Human Resources Directorate. Over her career to date, she has held senior positions in the areas of public law, program delivery, policy development, and transition management in a number of federal government departments, and the Public Service Commission.

Ms. Goulet comes to the Commission from Health Canada where she has been Associate Assistant Deputy Minister for the Health Products and Food Branch since May 24, 2005.  Previously, she was the Director General of the Tobacco Control Program, Healthy Environment and Consumer Safety Branch as well as Acting Assistant Deputy Minister for the same Branch and Director General, Transition to the Public Health Agency.

Prior to Ms. Goulet’s career in the public service, she spent a number of years in the educational field as a Secondary School Teacher, Administrator in a School Board and in a Provincial Teachers’ Union.

Ms. Goulet holds a B.A (Honours), B. ED and an LL.B/MBA from the University of Ottawa.