SONYA J. THISSEN (BA [Business Administration], University of Western Ontario, 1992; BA Honours [Political Science], University of Western Ontario, 1993; MA [International Affairs], Carleton University, 2000) joined Global Affairs Canada in 1995 from Industry Canada. During her time at HQ, she has worked in cultural diplomacy and creative industries, investment promotion, science and technology partnerships, clean technologies and natural resource sectors. While on Interchange, she was the Executive Director of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, a foundation dedicated to recognizing lifetime artistic achievement and celebrating excellence in the arts in Canada. She returned to the department and was the Deputy Chief of Protocol of Canada responsible for high-level visits including those related to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the 2010 G8/20 Summits in Canada. She has been posted to France as Counsellor (Political) and the United Kingdom as Minister-Counsellor (Political and Public Affairs). She has served as Director General, Mission Support and Geographic Coordination from 2021-2024. She is currently the Director General, Pan Geographic Policy.
She is married and has a daughter.