David McKinnon

Writer, commentator, and former Canadian diplomat

David McKinnon joined the Department of External Affairs as a trade commissioner in 1987. During his time in Ottawa, he has served in a variety of positions related to the range of Canada’s overseas trade, economic and diplomatic interests, including as director for Asia-Pacific policy (2002 to 2004).

From 2013 to 2017, he was executive director of strategic policy and planning and then director general of the Physical Resources Bureau. David's assignments overseas have included Bangkok (1989 to 1992), Canberra (1994 to 1998 and 2009 to 2013, the latter as deputy head of mission), New Delhi (2004 to 2009), where he was the minister-counsellor responsible for the delivery of Canada’s trade and investment program in India and Nepal, and Sri Lanka and the Maldives (2017-2022, as High Commissioner). In 2024, he served as Chargé d'affaires.at the Embassy of Canada to Central Asia in Astana, Kazakhstan.

David holds a bachelor's in History, University of Toronto and an MBA, Queen’s University.