Deirdre Kent
About Deirdre Kent
Deirdre Kent serves as the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to India, where she focuses on strategic development policy and emerging global issues. With a strong academic background and extensive experience in international diplomacy, she has held various roles within Global Affairs Canada, including Director General of International Development Policy.
Work at Government of Canada
Deirdre Kent currently serves as the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to India, a position she has held since 2019. In this role, she is responsible for advancing strategic development policy and addressing emerging issues, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Financing for Development. Prior to this, she worked as the Director General of International Development Policy at Global Affairs Canada since 2015. Her career at Global Affairs Canada has focused on multilateral diplomacy, encompassing international development policy, peace and security issues, and human rights.
Education and Expertise
Deirdre Kent has an extensive educational background. She studied at McMaster University, where she earned a Master of Business Administration, a Master's degree, a Bachelor's degree, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and International Business. Additionally, she pursued studies in Leadership at the University of Ottawa. This diverse academic foundation supports her expertise in international development and diplomacy.
Background
Deirdre Kent has a significant background in crisis management and international relations. From 2012 to 2015, she managed operational responses to complex crises, police and civilian deployments, and program finances with the Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force (START). She also served as the Human Rights Counsellor at the Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 2002 to 2006. Her first foreign posting was at the Canadian embassy in Israel.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Deirdre Kent has made contributions to various aspects of international development and diplomacy. Her work has included managing deployments and coordination within the Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force and addressing human rights issues at the UN. Her focus on multilateral diplomacy has been evident in her roles at Global Affairs Canada, where she has engaged with peace and security issues and international development policy.