Mr. Edwards retired in 2010 after 41 years in the Canadian Government Service. He served as Canada’s Deputy Foreign Minister from 2007 to 2010, as well as former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Personal Representative (or “Sherpa”) for the G8 and G20. He led the preparations for the G8 and G20 Summits hosted by Canada in 2010. From 2001 to 2007 he held the position of Deputy Minister of International Trade and subsequently Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada.

Much of Mr. Edwards career was spent on Asia Pacific affairs. He has been Canada’s Ambassador to both Japan and to the Republic of Korea. His Foreign Service career also included assignments to Vietnam, Turkey, Brussels (NATO), and to the United Nations Organizations in Geneva. Within Canada’s foreign ministry, he has been Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic and Trade Policy and for Asia Pacific Affairs. As Canada’s APEC Senior Official from 1994 to 1997, he led preparations for the 1997 APEC Summit hosted by Canada in Vancouver

Among his many activities since retirement, Mr. Edwards is a Distinguished Fellow at both the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a think tank based in Waterloo, Canada, and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada based in Vancouver. He has been an adviser and commentator on trade and political issues. He is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal of Canada, Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, and Korea’s Diplomatic Service Merit Medal.