Regional Director of International Trade, Atlantic Canada, Global Affairs Canada

Christine Hanson has achieved success over the past two decades in a wide range of public service roles in both Canada and abroad as a senior government executive, international lawyer, and diplomat. Christine is currently the Regional Director of International Trade for Atlantic Canada at Global Affairs Canada. In this role she leads a team with offices across the Atlantic region that help Canadian businesses explore global markets, find new customers and partners, and promote growth through exports.

After many years of living and working in Ottawa, New York and Washington DC with Global Affairs Canada, Christine returned to her home province to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. In this capacity, Christine also served as Chair of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies. More recently, she served as Executive Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the Mass Casualty Commission.

Prior to her return to Nova Scotia, Christine led a team at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC responsible for managing Canada’s relationship with the US Congress and sub-federal governments. She also provided strategic advice to Ambassadors, Canadian ministers, premiers, and parliamentarians on the impact of the US political landscape on key trade, environment, and foreign policy files.

Christine completed a graduate degree in international law from Georgetown University in Washington DC. She also earned degrees in law, public administration, and political science from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Christine was awarded a Building a Better World Alumni Award from Dalhousie University. She was also an International Women’s Forum Global Leadership Foundation Fellow at Harvard Business School and INSEAD in France.