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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>May 21, 2004 <em>(11:00 a.m. EDT)</em>
No. 73</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS</strong></font></p>
<p>Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced the following diplomatic
appointments:</p>
<p><strong>Kim Butler</strong> becomes Consul General in Minneapolis (United States of America).</p>
<p><strong>Hector Cowan </strong>becomes Consul General in St. Petersburg (Russian Federation).</p>
<p><strong>Paul Dubois</strong> becomes Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.</p>
<p><strong>Alain Dudoit</strong> becomes Consul General in Los Angeles (United States of America).</p>
<p><strong>Michael Fine</strong> becomes Consul General in Denver (United States of America).</p>
<p><strong>Barbara Gibson</strong> becomes Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in Vienna.</p>
<p><strong>Fredericka Gregory</strong> becomes Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark.</p>
<p><strong>Ping Kitnikone</strong> becomes Consul General in Mumbai (Republic of India).</p>
<p><strong>Robert Langlois</strong> becomes Consul General in Monterrey (United Mexican States).</p>
<p><strong>Philip MacKinnon</strong> becomes Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt.</p>
<p><strong>Louise R. Marchand</strong> becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal.</p>
<p><strong>Brian Oak</strong> becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador.</p>
<p><strong>Jeffrey N. Parker</strong> becomes Consul General in Seattle (United States of America).</p>
<p><strong>Donald Smith</strong> becomes Ambassador to the Holy See.</p>
<p><strong>Donald Stephenson</strong> becomes Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the
Office of the United Nations and to the World Trade Organization, in Geneva.</p>
<p><strong>Alan G. Virtue</strong> becomes High Commissioner in the Republic of Singapore.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>Biographical notes on the appointees are attached. </p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Isabelle Savard<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221044335/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES</strong></font></p>
<p><strong>Kim Butler </strong>(BComm [Finance], University of Ottawa, 1986) joined the federal
government in 1986 and is a graduate of the Accelerated Executive Development
Program. He held a variety of positions at Industry Canada including Director, Revenue,
Policy and Costs; Senior Director, Financial Policy and Systems; Corporate
Comptroller; and Director General and Federal Co-Chair of the Canada-Ontario
Infrastructure Program. Since 2003, he has been Senior Adviser to the Deputy Minister
of Industry Canada. Mr. Butler succeeds Christopher Thomson.</p>
<p><strong>Hector Cowan</strong> (BA [English Literature], Trent University, 1971; MA [Comparative
Canadian Literature], Université de Sherbrooke, 1979) joined Employment and
Immigration Canada (EIC) in 1974 and served abroad in Buenos Aires, New Delhi,
Paris, Moscow (twice), Port-au-Prince, Geneva and Singapore. In Ottawa, he served at
EIC as Chief, Refugee Policy and as Director, Refugee Affairs; and at the Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as Director, Refugee and International
Migration Division. Since 2001, he has been Ambassador to Kazakhstan. Mr. Cowan
and his wife Hilda have four daughters. Mr. Cowan succeeds Anna Biolik.</p>
<p><strong>Paul Dubois</strong> (BA [Classical Studies], Collège de Saint-Hyacinthe, 1969; BCL, McGill
University, 1973) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1973 and served abroad
in Bangkok, Abidjan and Bonn. From 1990 to 1994, he served as Minister and Deputy
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. In 1997, he was appointed
Ambassador to Austria, as well as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and
the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a position he held until 2001.
In Ottawa, Mr. Dubois held positions in the Legal Division and served as Director,
Economic and Trade Law Division. From 1994 to 1997, he served as Director General,
Western Europe Bureau and as Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, the Middle East and
North Africa. Since 2001, he has been Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe. Mr. Dubois is
married to Mechthild Dubois-Utters and they have two sons. He succeeds Marie
Bernard-Meunier.</p>
<p><strong>Alain Dudoit</strong> (BA [Philosophy], Université de Caen, 1965; winner, competitive
preparatory examination, Université de Bordeaux, 1966; BA, Université de Montréal,
1966; BSc [Political Science], Université de Montréal, 1968; LLL [Licentiate in Laws],
Université de Montréal, 1971; MSc [Political Science], Université de Montréal, 1972)
joined the federal Public Service in 1972. He held a number of senior positions at the
Privy Council Office, the Canadian International Development Agency and the
Department of Finance. In 1982, he was transferred from the Department of Finance to
the Department of External Affairs, becoming Senior Departmental Assistant to the
Secretary of State for External Affairs. From 1984 to 1988, he served in Paris as
Minister-Counsellor (Commercial and Economic Affairs). In 1994, he was named
Ambassador to the Czech Republic, a position he held until 1997. His other
headquarters assignments have included Director General, Trade Communication
Services, acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Communications and Culture Branch,
Director General, International Cultural Relations, and Chief of Protocol from 1997 to
2000. In 2000, he was appointed Ambassador to Spain. Mr. Dudoit is married to
Michèle Sutto and they have two daughters. He succeeds Colin Robertson.</p>
<p><strong>Michael Fine</strong> (BA [Economics], Mount Allison University; MBA [Marketing], Dalhousie
University) joined the Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce in 1978 and served
abroad in Sydney, Washington and Orlando. In Ottawa, he served as Director of
Textiles and Clothing Trade Policy before joining the Manitoba provincial government
as Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines and Northern and Native Affairs in 1995. He
returned to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to take up a
posting in Hong Kong. After his return from Hong Kong in 2000, as a participant in the
Accelerated Executive Development Program, he served at the Department of Finance
and at Industry Canada as the Executive Director of the Innovation Secretariat. Since
2003, he has been Coordinator of the Task Force on Enhanced Representation in the
United States at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Mr. Fine is
married to Sandy Baillieul and they have one daughter. Canada recently opened a
Consulate General in Denver.</p>
<p><strong>Barbara Gibson</strong> (BA, University of Saskatchewan, 1971) joined the Foreign Service in
1983. She had previously worked overseas for the New Zealand Department of Trade
and Industry in Auckland and Wellington (1974 to 1978) and subsequently for various
organizations in Brussels, London and Lagos. After joining the Canadian Foreign
Service, she served abroad at the Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations
in New York, and in Washington. In Ottawa, she undertook assignments in the Defence
Relations Division, the Office of the Minister of External Affairs, the South East Asia
Relations Division, and as Director of the Middle East Relations Division. Ms. Gibson is
married to Dr. Franz Baumann and they have a daughter. Ms. Gibson succeeds
Evelyn Puxley.</p>
<p><strong>Fredericka Gregory</strong> (BA, Honours [Political Science and German Literature], Queen's
University, 1978) joined the Department of External Affairs and International Trade in
1982. She served abroad at Canada's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New
York, and in Paris and Berlin. In Ottawa, she undertook a number of assignments,
including in the Western Europe Relations Division, the International Economics
Relations Division, and as G8 Economic Summit Coordinator. Since 2001, Ms. Gregory
has been Director, Northern Europe Division. Ms. Gregory will be accompanied to post
by Mr. Florian Schöpp.</p>
<p><strong>Ping Kitnikone</strong> (BA [Economics and Pacific Studies], University of Victoria, 1991; MPA
[Public Administration], University of Victoria, 1994) joined the Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade in 1994 and served abroad in Beijing, Taipei and, since
2003, Mumbai. In Ottawa, Ms. Kitnikone served in the China Division, International
Financing Division and Personnel Assignments Division. Ms. Kitnikone is married to
Jean-Stéphane Couture. Ms. Kitnikone becomes Canada's first Consul General in
Mumbai.</p>
<p><strong>Robert Langlois </strong>(BComm [Business Administration], McGill University, 1981; MA
[History], Université de Montréal, 1994; PhD [History], Carleton University, under way)
joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1997 and has
served in Rio de Janeiro and, since 2002, in Monterrey. In Ottawa, he served with
Team Canada. Mr. Langlois is married to Carmen Villegas. Mr. Langlois becomes
Canada's first Consul General in Monterrey.</p>
<p><strong>Philip MacKinnon</strong> (BA [History and Philosophy], Queen's University; MA [History and
Philosophy], University of Toronto, 1968) joined the Department of External Affairs in
1974 and served abroad in Tunis, Seoul, Geneva and Vienna. In Ottawa, he undertook
assignments in a number of divisions, including the United States Division; the Industry,
Investment and Competition Policy Division; and the Nuclear Division. He also served
as Director of International Security Policy and CSCE [Commission of Security and
Cooperation in Europe] Affairs, Director of the United Nations and Commonwealth
Division and, from 1998 to 2001, Director of the Western Europe Division. Since 2001,
he has been Ambassador to Iran. Mr. MacKinnon and his wife Mary have two children.
Mr. MacKinnon succeeds Michel de Salaberry.</p>
<p><strong>Louise R. Marchand</strong> (BA, University of Ottawa, 1977) joined the Canadian
International Development Agency in 1977 and served abroad in Dar-es-Salaam and
Islamabad. In Ottawa, she held a number of positions in the Corporate Branch, in the
Africa and Middle East Branch, with the AusAID Exchange Program, and in the Central
and Eastern Europe Branch. Since 2002, she has been Director General, Humanitarian
Assistance, Peace and Security Multilateral Branch. Ms. Marchand is married to
Alan Smith and they have two sons. Ms. Marchand succeeds Denis Thibault.</p>
<p><strong>Brian Oak</strong> (BA Honours [Soviet and East European Studies], Carleton University, 1973;
MA [International Affairs], Carleton University, 1978) joined the Department of Industry,
Trade and Commerce (ITC) in 1978 and served abroad in Prague, Washington and
Santiago. In Ottawa, he served in the Western Europe Division, ITC; and at the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in the Eastern Europe Division,
the United States Trade Development Division and the Japan Division. From 2000 to
2003, he was Director of the Policy and Strategic Planning Division, and earlier this year
he became Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister of International Trade. Mr. Oak
and his wife Lydia have two children. Mr. Oak succeeds Ottfried von Finckenstein.</p>
<p><strong>Jeffrey N. Parker</strong> ([Forestry], Lakehead University, 1967; BA Honours, Carleton
University, 1970; MA, York University, 1973) joined the Department of Indian Affairs
and Northern Development in 1973 and held a number of positions in the offices of the
ministers of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, National
Defence and Finance. From 1993 to 2000, he served successively as Chief of the
Federal/Provincial/Social Secretariat at the Department of Finance, Senior Director at
Treasury Board Secretariat and Director, Strategic Operations at the Privy Council
Office. Since 2001, he has been Executive Director, Technology Partnerships Canada
at Industry Canada. Mr. Parker has two children.</p>
<p><strong>Donald Smith</strong> (BA, University of Alberta; LLB, University of Alberta) joined the
Department of External Affairs in 1969 and served abroad in Cairo, Dublin and London.
In 1997, he was named Ambassador to Croatia, a position he held until 2000. In
Ottawa, he undertook a variety of assignments in the Legal Operations and Legal
Advisory Divisions, the Africa and Middle East Division and the United Nations Division.
From 1991 to 1997, he served as Director of the Legal Advisory Division. In 2000, he
was named Special Coordinator for Reconstruction of the Balkans and, in 2003, he
became Director, Southeast Europe Division. Mr. Smith and his wife Elizabeth Ann
have two daughters.</p>
<p><strong>Donald Stephenson</strong> (BA [Communications and Interdisciplinary Studies], Concordia
University) joined the federal Public Service in 1981 and served at the Department of
Communications in the Arts Policy Division, the Cultural Initiatives Program, Arts Policy,
and as Cultural Policy Adviser to the Minister of Communications. He subsequently
served as Director of Executive Services and of Communications at Consumer and
Corporate Affairs; as Special Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Industry Canada; as
Director General, Economic Policy at Western Economic Diversification; as Director
General, Cultural Industries at Heritage Canada; and, from September 2000 to October
2002, as Director General, Trade Policy Bureau II at the Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade. Since 2002, he has served as Assistant Secretary to the
Cabinet, Economic and Regional Development Policy, Privy Council Office.
Mr. Stephenson is married to Jocelyne Béland and they have two children. He
succeeds Sergio Marchi.</p>
<p><strong>Alan G. Virtue</strong> (BA [Mathematics], 1966; BComm [Marketing], 1966; MBA [Marketing],
1971, University of Saskatchewan) joined the Trade Commissioner Service of the
Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce in 1973 following several years in
marketing with IBM Canada Ltd. He served abroad in Port of Spain, Philadelphia and
Bern. In 1995, he was named Consul General in Sydney, a position he held until 1999.
In Ottawa, Mr. Virtue held a number of positions including Director, Aerospace, Marine
and Defence Products Division; Coordinator, Trade Development Secretariat; Director,
Trade Competitiveness Policy Division; and Director, Trade Commissioner Service
Strategic Planning Division. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Virtue was Deputy Executive
Director of Investment Partnerships Canada and, most recently, Director General,
Operations and Services Bureau, Trade Commissioner Service, International Trade
Canada. He is married to Elaine Eaton and the couple has two children.</p>
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