With over 30 years of experience in Canada’s department of foreign affairs, Barbara Martin is now an Adjunct Professor in the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University where she teaches Canadian foreign policy.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Martin worked on a diverse range of international policy areas including security, peacekeeping, development, economic relations, human rights and Canada’s relations with the U.S. She also has extensive experience with respect to Canada’s multilateral engagement in the UN, ASEAN, G8 / G7, G20, NATO and NORAD. In 2013, she co-chaired the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group during Russia’s G20 Presidency.
She was Director General for the Middle East and North Africa during the tumultuous period of the Arab Spring. And, having worked on Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan in the early years immediately following 9/11, she was later Director General of the Afghanistan Task Force during the lead up to Canada’s withdrawal from Kandahar. She has also worked in various capacities in the Privy Council Office, including in the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat, and the Security and Intelligence Secretariat.
Abroad, Ms. Martin has served in Canada’s embassy in Manila, Philippines (during the People Power Revolution), as well as in Canada’s Delegation to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France where, among other responsibilities, she addressed energy, environment and development issues.
She is a graduate of Queen’s University, with an MPA from the School of Policy Studies, as well as a BA Hons and a BEd. She spent one year of her undergraduate degree at St. Andrew’s University, Scotland. In addition, she has served as an elected Councillor in the Municipality of Chelsea, Quebec where she lives. As a volunteer, she has been President of Outlook Camping, Inc. (a wilderness camp for at-risk youth), as well as a Board Member of Canadian Crossroads International.
