The new Ambassador Alexandra Bugailiskis has held important institutional positions: a long and brilliant career that brings her to Italy today, in a context of growing bilateral relations and advantageous trade with the European Union from a commercial and political point of view

 

*Francesca Paolucci

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada (Global Affairs Canada), last August, officially nominated Alexandra Bugailiskis Ambassador of Canada to Italy. The diplomatic agent will also represent his country in the Republic of San Marino, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Ambassador Bugailiskis has been serving the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs since 1982 and has gained considerable international experience as Canada's diplomatic representative in Syria (1997-2000), Cuba (2003-2007) and Poland (2013 -2015).

Specializing in International Studies with a Master in International Affairs at Carleton University, his recognized and highly accredited international business skills has been formed in institutional contexts, thanks to important positions at government offices, as Director General of the Latin American and Caribbean Bureau ( 2000-2002), Executive Director of the Unit devoted to the International Policy Plan at the Office of the Cabinet of the Federal Government of Canada - the Privy Council Office - (2002-2003) and Executive coordinator of the Inter-American Development Bank Business (2010).

As part of Canada 's relations with Italy, it is also known as a Member State of the European Union, it is of particular interest to know that in 2011 the new Ambassador served as as the chief negotiator for the Canada-European Union Strategic Political Partnership Agreement (SPA), becoming, in 2015, assistant deputy minister for Europe, the Middle East, the Maghreb and Circumpolar Affairs.  

The Ambassador Bugailiskis succeeds Ambassador Peter McGovern who, after representing Canada in Italy for the past four years, has returned to his country for other prestigious institutional positions.

 

* Coordination and research Centro Studi Italia-Canada