Background

The Honourable Jocelyne Bourgon is Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and President Emeritus of the Canadian School of Public Service. Prior to joining CIGI, she was Canada's Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Mme. Bourgon has a long career in the public service, where she was appointed Deputy Minister in the Canadian government in 1989 in charge of constitutional negotiations leading to the Charlottetown Accord. She was President of the Canadian International Development Agency before becoming Deputy Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. In 1994, she was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Canadian Cabinet and in 1998 she was summoned to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada in recognition of her contribution to the country. From 1999 to 2003, the Honourable Jocelyne Bourgon served as President of the Canadian Centre for Management Development, where her actions led to the creation of Canada School of Public Service. Mme. Bourgon is an active member of various international boards and advisory committees including the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (past President), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (Executive), and the United Kingdom National School of Government (board member). In 2001, she was named to the Order of Canada. She is also the recipient of honorary degrees from Mount Saint Vincent, Queen's, Ottawa, Carleton and Guelph universities. As an expert in governance and public sector reforms, Mrs. Bourgon provides advice to various governments, most recently including the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, the Bahamas, Brazil, Russia and various Commonwealth countries.