Name Michael Leir | ||
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Education Schulich School of Law, University of London, Dalhousie University | ||
Michael Leir (born 1949) is the former Canadian High Commissioner to Australia, and he also represented Canada in the following nations: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau and Nauru. He served in those roles from 2005 until 2010.
Life and career
Leir received both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University, in 1971 and 1974 respectively. He studied for a Masters in Law (International Law) at the University of London in 1975.
He joined the then-Department of External Affairs (now Global Affairs Canada) in 1976 and served in numerous diplomatic positions, including as the lead Canadian lawyer in implementing the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Directors General of United States Relations for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Prior to his posting in Australia, he was the Canadian Ambassador to Turkey.