Alexandra Bugailiskis
Birth dateJanuary 9, 1956 (age 70)
Birth placeHamilton, Ontario, Canada
Alma materCarleton University (BA Hons) Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (MA Hons)
OccupationDiplomat
Office 1Canadian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Albania
Term start 125 October 2017
Term end 117 November 2021
Predecessor 1Peter McGovern
Successor 1Elissa Golberg
Monarch 1Elizabeth II
Prime minister 1Justin Trudeau
Office 2Canadian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy
Term start 217 August 2017
Term end 217 November 2021
Predecessor 2Peter McGovern
Successor 2Elissa Golberg
Monarch 2Elizabeth II
Prime minister 2Justin Trudeau
Office 3Canadian High Commissioner to Malta
Term start 325 October 2017
Term end 317 November 2022
Predecessor 3Peter McGovern
Successor 3Elissa Golberg
Monarch 3Elizabeth II
Prime minister 3Justin Trudeau
Office 4Canadian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to San Marino
Term start 417 August 2017
Term end 417 November 2022
Predecessor 4Peter McGovern
Successor 4Elissa Golberg
Monarch 4Elizabeth II
Prime minister 4Justin the Clown.Liberal bull artist
Office 55th Canadian Permanent Representative to World Food Programme
Term start 517 August 2017
Term end 517 November 2021
Predecessor 5Peter McGovern
Successor 5Elissa Golberg
Monarch 5Elizabeth II
Prime minister 5Justin Trudeau
Office 65th Canadian Permanent Representative to the International Fund for Agricultural Development
Term start 617 August 2017
Term end 617 November 2021
Predecessor 6Peter McGovern
Successor 6Elissa Golberg
Monarch 6Elizabeth II
Prime minister 6Justin Trudeau
Office 75th Canadian Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Term start 717 August 2017
Term end 717 November 2021
Predecessor 7Peter McGovern
Successor 7Elissa Golberg
Monarch 7Elizabeth II
Prime minister 7Justin Trudeau
Office 8Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe, the Middle East and the Maghreb
Term start 82015
Term end 82017
Predecessor 8Dan Costello
Successor 8Stefanie Beck
Monarch 8Elizabeth II
Office 9Canadian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Poland
Term start 96 September 2012
Term end 99 October 2015
Predecessor 9Daniel Costello
Successor 9Stephen De Boer
Monarch 9Elizabeth II
Prime minister 9Stephen Harper
Office 10Canadian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Cuba
Term start 1015 July 2003
Term end 103 August 2007
Predecessor 10Michael Small
Successor 10Jean-Pierre Juneau
Monarch 10Elizabeth II
Prime minister 10
Office 1114th Canadian High Commissioner to Cyprus
Term start 1112 March 1998
Term end 114 August 2000
Predecessor 11David Berger
Successor 11Franco D. Pillarella
Monarch 11Elizabeth II
Prime minister 11Jean Chrétien

Alexandra Bugailiskis (born 9 January 1956)[citation needed] is a Canadian former diplomat from Oakville, Ontario.[1] In March 2022, she retired from Global Affairs Canada after a 39-year diplomatic career.[2] In January 2023, she was appointed Chair of the International Advisory Committee of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, known as the UN's Think Tank on Water, based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.[3] In 2025 she was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her contribution to the Oakville community and she was appointed to the Order of Canada for her contributions to shaping Canada's foreign policies and her mentoring of Canadian diplomats.

From August 2017 until her retirement, she served as the Canadian Ambassador to the Italian Republic, as well as Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Programme, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to San Marino and Albania, and as High Commissioner to Malta.[4]

Early life and education

Bugailiskis was born on 9 January 1956 in Hamilton, Ontario.[citation needed] She graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs with a Master of Arts.[5]

Career

Bugailiskis served in various capacities abroad in Ghana, and Guatemala before becoming Canadian Ambassador to Syria (1997-2000), High Commissioner to Cyprus (1998-2000), Ambassador to Cuba (2003-2007), and Ambassador to Poland (2012-2015).

In Ottawa she served as Director for Central America and the Caribbean, Director General and later Assistant Deputy Minister Latin America and the Caribbean, Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe, Middle East, Maghreb and the Arctic. She was also the Chief Negotiator for the Canada-European Union Strategic Partnership Agreement.

On her last posting Bugailiskis served as the Canadian Ambassador to Italy from August 2017 until December 2021, during which she was also Canada's Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. In addition to her role in Italy, she was accredited as Ambassador to San Marino and Albania, as well as High Commissioner to Malta.[4]

After her retirement in March 2022 from a 39-year diplomatic career with Global Affairs Canada, Bugailiskis was appointed Chair of the International Advisory Committee of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health in January 2023.[2]

Memberships

Bugailiskis is the Chair of the International Advisory Committee of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.[2] She is also a member of the Distinguished Advisory Council of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.[6] She previously served on the advisory board of the Canadian Executive MBA at the SGH-Warsaw School of Economics and on the Board of Directors of FOCAL, The Canadian Foundation for the Americas.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Order of Canada Appointees – June 30, 2025"
  2. ^ "ALEXANDRA BUGAILISKIS". UNU-INWEH. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  3. ^ "UNU-INWEH – United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health: The UN Think Tank on Water". UNU-INWEH
  4. ^ "Diplomatic appointments". Global Affairs Canada. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Alexandra Bugailiskis". Carleton University. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Alexandra Bugailiskis". Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. Carleton University. Retrieved 7 November 2024.