Waterloo, ON - After a long and distinguished career in the finest traditions of the Canadian public service, Paul Heinbecker, Canada's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York has decided to continue his work in Waterloo.
Paul joined the Foreign Service in 1965 and his career has been marked by service at the highest levels and on the most important issues of the day. His talent for policy development] served him well in a variety of posts, including Chairman of the Department's Policy Development Secretariat, Senior Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Foreign and Defence Policy, and from 1996 to 2000, Assistant Deputy Minister for Global and Security Policy. As Minister in Washington from 1985 to 1989, Ambassador to Germany from 1992 to 1996, and since 2000 in New York, Paul has excelled in some of the most demanding and prestigious positions in the Canadian Foreign Service.
Although Paul will be missed, we would note that he will be embarking on a new career. We know that you join us in extending to him and to his wife Ayse, our best wishes for every success in their future endeavours.
As of January 2nd, 2004 Paul will begin a new career in Waterloo, Ontario. He will be holding joint positions as Director of the Centre for Global Relations, Governance and Policy at Wilfrid Laurier University and Senior Research Fellow at the independent research Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).
As Canada's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Paul Heinbecker was helpful in providing logistical support to Laurier's bid to host ACUNS for the next five years (2003-2008). ACUNS comes to Canada from Yale, and Wilfrid Laurier is the first non-American institution to have the Council located on its campus. Since its creation in 1987, ACUNS has been at Dartmouth College, Brown University and Yale University.
Waterloo philanthropist, James Balsillie, has been influential in providing significant financial support to the CIGI, ACUNS and Laurier. The CIGI is an independent centre for scholarly research that was established in July 2002 to address and research issues concerning the stability and security of the international economic and financial system. The CIGI has the support from the private sector and the Government of Canada and is committed to the development of new rules with respect to the international; multilateral system. It has formed linkages with a number of prominent organizations including the World Economic Forum.
"The presence of Paul Heinbecker will be a tremendous benefit to the work of the CIGI", said Board Chair Jim Balsillie. "He brings a wealth of international experience and wisdom." Paul will also work closely with scholars at the University of Waterloo through the CIGI.
The Laurier Centre for Global Relations, Governance and Policy is a federation of existing Laurier organizations, activities and individuals who share common research and practical interests in improving international relations and governance. These include: the Viessmann Research Centre on Modern Europe, the Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies, The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), the Political Science Department, and the Global Studies Program.