Derek Burney
Canadian Ambassador to the United States (1986-1989); Senior Research Fellow, CDFAI.
Last Contribution:
A Renewed Partnership
Contributor Biography
Derek H. Burney is Senior Strategic Advisor to Ogilvy Renault LLP. He is Chairman of the Board of Canwest Global Communications Corp. and a Visiting Professor and Senior Distinguished Fellow at Carleton University. From October 2007 to February 2008, Mr. Burney served on the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan. In September 2008, he was appointed as the Chair of the Selection Committee for the “Canada Excellence Research Chairs” programme of the Government of Canada.
Mr. Burney was born in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, and was educated at Queen's University, where he received an Honours B.A. and M.A.
Mr. Burney headed the Transition team for Prime Minister Harper from January to March, 2006. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of CAE Inc. from October 1999 until August 2004. Prior to joining CAE, Mr. Burney was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bell Canada International Inc. (1993-1999).
From 1989-1993, Mr. Burney served as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States. This assignment culminated a distinguished thirty-year career in the Canadian Foreign Service, during which he completed a variety of assignments at home and abroad.
From March 1987 to January 1989, Mr. Burney served as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister. He was directly involved in the negotiation of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. He was the Prime Minister's personal representative (Sherpa) in the preparations for the Houston (1990), London (1991) and Munich (1992) G-7 Economic Summits.
In February 1992, Mr. Burney was awarded the Public Service of Canada's Outstanding Achievement Award. In July 1993, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Mr. Burney was conferred Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Lakehead University, Queen's University, Wilfrid Laurier University and Carleton University.
His memoir of government service - Getting it Done - was published by McGill-Queen’s in 2005.
He is a Director of TransCanada Pipelines Limited and a Senior Research Fellow at the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute.
Mr. Burney is married to Joan (Peden) and has four sons.
