November 5, 2008
Dr. Peter Harrison was previously Deputy Minister (Permanent Secretary) of Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada; the founding Deputy Minister of The Leadership Network, and Associate Deputy Minister of Human Resources Development Canada . He has worked at the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) level in the Department of Finance, the Privy Council (Cabinet) Office, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the Canadian Centre for Management Development and Revenue Canada.
Prior to joining the public service in 1981, Dr. Harrison was Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Ottawa. He holds a BA Hon. (1st cl.) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, an MA from the University of Victoria and a PhD from the University of Washington.
Dr. Harrison’s mandate is to promote Canada’s ratification of the law of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (November 2003), to promote and develop the oceans Action Plan as outlined in the Speech From The Throne, and to propose options concerning Canada’s efforts in Oceans Science, Technology, Innovation and Commercialization. Dr. Harrison’s research, writing and lecturing focus on ocean and coastal zone management, with a particular emphasis on the Arctic. He is actively engaged in promoting the government of Canada’s involvement in and support for the upcoming International Polar Year (IPY) 2007 to 2008.
Dr. Harrison is a Fellow and Governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.