Derek H. Burney

Derek H. Burney "is a senior strategic advisor at Ogilvy Renault LLP (law firm) and Chair of Canwest Global Communications Corp. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of CAE Inc. (technology) from October 1999 to August 2004, and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bell Canada International Inc. (communications) from 1993 to 1999. Mr. Burney was the lead director at Shell Canada Limited (oil and gas) from April 2001 to May 2007. Mr. Burney held various positions with the Canadian Foreign Service, including serving from 1989 to 1993 as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States. From 1987 to 1989, he was Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister and was directly involved in the negotiation of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. In 1992, Mr. Burney was awarded the Public Service of Canada’s Outstanding Achievement Award. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993. He is also a Visiting Professor and Senior Distinguished Fellow at Carleton University, Honourary Chairman of the Confederation College Foundation and a Senior Research Fellow at the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute.

"Mr. Burney was conferred Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Lakehead University, Queen’s University, Wilfrid Laurier University and Carleton University. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Queen’s University.

"Mr. Burney headed the Conservative Transition Team following the federal election in early 2006 and, in October 2007, was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan. In addition to his position at Norton Rose Canada LLP, Mr. Burney also serves as Chancellor of Lakehead University, a Director of TransCanada Pipelines Limited, a Governor of the Ottawa Hospital Board of Governors and a member of the Advisory Board of Paradigm Capital Inc."

• Director, TransCanada
• Chair of advisory board, GardaWorld