Arif Lalani becomes Canada’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

August 28, 2012 – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today announced the following diplomatic appointment:

Arif Lalani becomes Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Biographical Note

Arif Lalani (BA [International Relations], University of British Columbia, 1989; MSc [Management, Organizations and Governance], London School of Economics, 2009) joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1991. He undertook various assignments at Headquarters and abroad, including a brief assignment in Copenhagen and work with the Senior Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, European Union issues, and Commonwealth and United Nations affairs. In 1994, he was assigned to the Embassy of Canada to Turkey. Mr. Lalani also served abroad at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York during Canada’s term on the Security Council and as counsellor in Washington, D.C. In 2006, he was appointed ambassador of Canada to Jordan, with accreditation to Iraq, and, in 2007, he was appointed ambassador of Canada to Afghanistan. At Headquarters, Mr. Lalani was director of the South Asia Division and, since 2009, has been director general of the department’s Strategic Policy Bureau. Mr. Lalani has also been a director of the operating board of the Centre for International Governance Innovation since June 2012. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Mr. Lalani succeeds Ken Lewis.

via Diplomatic Appointment – www.international.gc.ca.