Cameron MacKay, trade policy specialist, to be new Canadian High Commissioner

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 24

Canada has announced new chiefs of its High Commission here as well as the three consulates in Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Cameron MacKay has been appointed the High Commissioner to India, replacing the long-serving Nadir Patel.

A specialist in trade, he was Canada Foreign Ministry’s Regional Trade Policy director, DG for China trade policy, DG of the Trade Negotiations Bureau and DG of the Trade Sectors Bureau.

Most recently in Ottawa, he served as Director of Operations at the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat. Abroad, he has served in Geneva, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua, and as Canada’s Ambassador to Indonesia.

At the Chandigarh consulate, Patrick Hébert will be the new Consul General, replacing Mia Yen who has become Canada’s first Consul General to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, based in Seattle. Hebert has 20 years of experience in government, including 10 years abroad, with a strong interest in international peace and security issues.

Benoit Préfontaine will be Canada’s Consul General in Bengaluru. Préfontaine replaces Nicole Girard. Préfontaine was previously the High Commissioner of Canada in Bangladesh.

Diedrah Kelly will be Canada’s Consul General in Mumbai, replacing Annie Dubé. Kelly was the Ambassador of Canada to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).