UNIS/BIO/885
25 August 2009
VIENNA, 25 August (UN Information Service) - The new Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations (Vienna), John Barrett, presented his credentials today to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Antonio Maria Costa.
Mr. Barrett is also serving as Permanent Representative to other international organizations in Vienna and as Ambassador to Austria, posts which he assumed this year.
Mr. Barrett has served in many capacities in the course of his career, among them: Director-General, Strategic Planning, Resources and Coordination Bureau, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (2006-09), Director, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Division, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (2005-06), Director, Communications and Consultations Secretariat, Privy Council Office (2004-05), Senior Communications Advisor and Speechwriter to the Governor-General of Canada (2001-03), Acting Director, Public Policy, Department of National Defence (1999-2000), Director, Policy Planning and Speechwriting, Political Affairs Division, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1994-99), Policy Officer, Disarmament, Arms Control and Cooperative Security, Political Affairs Division, NATO (1991-93) and Policy Officer, International Security and Arms Control Affairs Bureau, Department of External Affairs (1989-91).
Mr. Barrett holds a doctoral degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics, a Master's degree in Political Theory and International Relations from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto. He speaks English, French and German.
Mr. Barrett is married and has two children.
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