Andrew P. W. Bennett

Andrew P. W. Bennett^[1] is a Canadian public servant and academic. He is the first Canadian Ambassador for Religious Freedom (Office of Religious Freedom). He was appointed to the position on February 19, 2013.^[2]

Early life

He received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Dalhousie University in 1995, a Master of Arts in History from McGill University in 1997, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Edinburgh in 2002.^[3]

In his community, Bennett is actively involved with the Shepherds of Good Hope mission in Ottawa and the Government of Canada’s Recruitment for Policy Leaders program. He also serves as a Subdeacon and Cantor with both the Holy Cross Eastern Catholic Chaplaincy and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian-Catholic Shrine, both in Ottawa, and as Vice-President and Chairman of the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Foundation.^[1]

Career

Before being appointed to the position of Ambassador for Religious Freedom, on February 19, 2013, Andrew Bennett worked for the Privy Council Office, Export Development Canada and Natural Resources Canada in a variety of analytical, research, and corporate roles. He has also held roles as Professor and Dean at Augustine College in Ottawa, as a Scholar Expert on the Americas Desk with Oxford Analytica and as a Researcher with the University of Edinburgh’s Institute on Governance where he focused on the process of devolution in Scotland.^[4]

The Office of Religious Freedom was opened on February 19, 2013. It was created to promote freedom of religion or belief as a Canadian foreign policy priority and is operating within the Department of Foreign Affairs.^[5] The Office is meant to be an important vehicle through which Canada can advance fundamental Canadian values, including freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide. The Office will advance policies and programs that support, promote and defend the right to freedom of religion.^[6]

References