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PAFSO Awards
2010 PAFSO AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 PAFSO Canadian Service Officer Awards presented on the 10th of June at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Patrice Nectoux, Manager, International Networks Support Section, CBSA is honoured by PAFSO for outstanding achievements as an inspirational manager and network builder extraordinaire charged with identifying and interdicting illegal migrants, criminals and security threats. Since Patrice took over management of CBSA’s Migration Integrity Officer network in 2007 it has developed into a highly effective first line of national defence. He has made quantum improvements to staffing, training, equipment and electronic intelligence reporting. His creative problem solving ability enables him to see opportunities not obstacles. He skilfully deployed his network in response to international disasters and led the development of threat detection approaches during the Vancouver Olympics, models of excellence being emulated by the UK for the London Olympics. Colleagues attest to his leadership capabilities, communications skills and his negotiating prowess. As a result of Patrice’s vision, managerial and leadership skills, and the cooperation he has elicited from the airline industry and a broad spectrum of international partners, Canada now has a better defence against those who seek to abuse our immigration programs or harm our national security.
Jordan Reeves, Consul, Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada, Shanghai is receiving the PAFSO Award for his exceptional achievements in Taiwan, Beijing and Shanghai. Fluent in Mandarin and with a deep understanding of Chinese culture, he repeatedly persuaded ultra cautious, risk adverse bureaucrats and vested interests to open markets for Canadian products including softwood lumber, pork, beef and even the lowly pea. Humour and creative problem solving have been hallmarks of his success. Jordan’s tremendous talent for managing complex issues and events made critical contributions to the success of a steady stream of high-level missions to China. He prepared the groundwork for two new Trade Offices in China. He consistently demonstrated a rare and valuable combination of technical understanding, strategic thinking, judgment and superior interpersonal skills with a “can do” attitude and effective cross cultural aptitude. Jordan’s competencies are an asset to Canada. According to a senior PCO official, “Jordan Reeves sets the standard and is the model for the Trade Commissioner Service.”
Bushra Saeed is a winner of the PAFSO Award for furthering Canada’s objectives in both Pakistan and Afghanistan as an analyst, communicator and inspiring colleague. As a new officer assigned to some of the most sensitive issues facing DFAIT her performance surpassed expectations. In her third year with DFAIT Bushra volunteered to serve in Afghanistan where her energy, enthusiasm and policy skills made her an ideal team member. She made a tremendous contribution in just two months with her language skills, deep cultural and historical knowledge and understanding of the politics of the region. She threw herself into her work with skill, energy and enthusiasm - a “human dynamo” - dedicating long hours to a prodigious list of accomplishments, producing well received reports on the complex implications of the Presidential elections, stabilization within Kandahar City, the Shia community, fraud allegations and counter narcotics issues. Sustaining serious injuries from an improvised explosive device she maintains her commitment and remains in touch with her colleagues in Kandahar, encouraging them in the pursuit of their important duties.
Jean-Philippe Tachdjian, Deputy Director and Trade Commissioner, in DFAIT’s Edu-Canada International Education Promotion division is honoured by PAFSO for instigating major changes in the international promotion of Canadian education. Building on his successful engagement of provincial ministries of education and the Canadian Bureau for International Education at a major American conference on international education (NAFSA) Jean-Philippe launched an initiative to develop the Canadian education brand. Blending determination, vision and transparency with a tough but sensitive negotiation style he achieved agreement among the provinces and territories and the numerous stakeholders involved in post secondary education - no small accomplishment for a federal civil servant in a provincial sector. The launch of the new education brand for Canada transformed Canada’s education marketing strategy and provided a focus on this $6.5 billion dollar contribution to Canada’s economy. As a result of Jean Philippe’s creativity, stewardship, management and communication skills the promotion of Canada as a quality education destination is now a government priority, the education sector has a clear promotion plan and a recognizable Canadian education brand.
The Canadian Foreign Service Officer Awards were instituted in 1990 by PAFSO to acknowledge exceptional achievements by career foreign service officers.
Judges for this year’s Awards were: Mr. Don Newman (Chairman of the Judges’ Panel); Mr. Brian Davis, General (Ret’d) John de Chastelain, Mr. John Ivison, Mr. Claude Laverdure and Mrs. Louise Terrillon-Mackay.
In addition to the four PAFSO Awards, one other award was presented at the PAFSO Dinner on June 10, 2010. Mrs. Denise Simard-Lapointe was the winner of the Retired Heads of Mission Association (RHOMA) sponsored award for the best article in bout de papier magazine for Volume 24. Her article “La musique canadienne au milieu du monde” appeared in Issue No. 4. She received a framed Award and cheque.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
PAFSO
412-47 Clarence Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 9K1
613-241-1391
www.pafso-apase.com
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - 2010 - HOW TO NOMINATE
The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) invites nominations for the 2009 Canadian Foreign Service Officer Awards. The Awards were instituted in 1990 by PAFSO as a means of providing peer recognition of exceptional achievement by career Foreign Service Officers (FS).
The Awards are based on an open nomination process. Anyone may nominate any Foreign Service Officer who is a member of the FS Group (including FSDP) for an Award. PAFSO particularly welcomes nominations from colleagues in the Foreign Service and from members of the public, both in Canada and abroad.
Nominees for the Award will be judged on the basis of:
a) initiative and creativity;
b) dedication to serving Canada and Canadians;
c) effectiveness in interacting with cultures in which the officer has worked; and
d) ability to inspire colleagues and professional contacts.
These qualities may have been displayed in the handling of a particular issue or over the length of the officer's career. Nomination and support of more than one candidate is possible, however, there must be a separate nomination for each individual.
To submit a nomination:
1. Send a signed letter, facsimile or e-mail to PAFSO.
Attention: Ms. Dilys Buckley-Jones
Secretary, Awards Committee
The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers
Suite 412, 47 Clarence Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9K1 Canada.
Phone: (613) 241-1391 Fax: (613) 241-5911.
2. Answer the following questions as fully as possible:
- Name of nominee.
- How has this person displayed his or her exceptional achievement? (Please give detailed, concrete examples.)
3. For each nomination a minimum of two detailed letters of support will be required. These letters should reinforce and expand upon the nomination of the candidate. You may wish to provide names of others willing to support your candidate. Please provide their full names, addresses, e-mail, phone and fax numbers. They will be contacted by retired Head of Mission, Ms Dilys Buckley-Jones, Awards Secretary, to provide written letters of support.
All nominations must be received at the PAFSO office by April 5, 2010, either by fax (613) 241-5911, by mail to Ms. Dilys Buckley-Jones, Awards Secretary, PAFSO, 47 Clarence Street, Suite 412, Ottawa ON K1N 9K1, or by e-mail to awards@pafso-apase.com
All nominations will be carefully considered by an independent panel of five distinguished judges from outside the Departments. This year’s panel of judges include: Mr. Brian Davis, General John de Chastelain, Mr. John Ivison, Mr. Claude Laverdure, Mr. Don Newman (Chair) and Mrs. Louise Terrillon-Mackay. Up to four awards will be presented, along with a cash prize , certificate and pin.
The winners will be announced at a dinner hosted by PAFSO at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on Thursday, June 10, 2010. Further details on tickets for the dinner will be available in due course. PAFSO has prepared a guideline for nominations and a brochure describing the Awards, which can be provided to anyone interested in publicizing the Awards or in submitting a nomination. Copies are available from the PAFSO office.
HOW TO NOMINATE
Foreign Service Awards Brochure (pdf)
Guidelines for Nominations (pdf)
2009 PAFSO AWARD RECIPIENTS
left to right: Frank Ruddock, Jason La Torre, Soyoung Park and Leonard Beaulne
The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 PAFSO Canadian Foreign Service Officer Awards presented on June 11, 2009 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Leonard Beaulne, Deputy Director, Inter-American Affairs in DFAIT's South America and Inter-American Relations Division is being honoured this year as a winner of the PAFSO Award for his exceptional achievement and his enormous contributions to inter-American affairs. Leonard is fluently trilingual, in French, English and Spanish, a major asset in negotiations in the inter-American context where the ability to identify the acceptable word or phrase can change the momentum and ultimately the success of the negotiation session. He has tremendous knowledge of the Americas and provides colleagues with the historical and political context and background of many inter-American issues. Leonard possesses the important ability to understand the motivations underlying the positions and actions of other delegations, allowing him to shape a strategy that can gain the support of others by addressing their needs and concerns. He is regarded as one of DFAIT's foremost experts on the Americas, combining the experience of the full range of bilateral relations and extraordinary insight into the broader inter-American system – two valued abilities as Canada has worked to develop the multilateral arm of its Americas Strategy.
Jason LaTorre, Senior Trade Commissioner, Canadian Consulate General, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has been selected as a winner of the PAFSO Award for his work as Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He is being recognized for his initiative, creativity, his inter-cultural effectiveness and his dedicated service to Canadians. One of his prime areas of work was in the education sector. He recognized the opportunities to promote Canadian competitiveness in education and worked with key local contacts, Canadian institutions and other members of the mission, including the immigration section. These efforts resulted in student numbers effectively doubling during his first year on the education file. Jason is a model of good work-life balance for his staff and others, focussing on priorities in a way that inspires them. A number of Jason’s clients joined in the process of nominating him, praising different aspects of his work. His nomination was fully supported by the members of his section who recognize and appreciate his leadership style, his care of Vietnamese culture in both business and life, and the enthusiasm he has brought to his assignment.
Soyoung Park, currently Project Business Director, GCMS, Client Service Modernisation in CIC, is being honoured this year as a winner of the PAFSO Award for excelling in bringing action management, vision, partnership and solid values to her work in the Foreign Service. Soyoung has had three postings, New Delhi, Beijing and Damascus. In each, she has tackled difficult problems and implemented efficient managerial practices, improving the service provided to clients. At headquarters, she took on responsibility as Project Business Director for the Global Case Management System (GCMS) which, when implemented, will be the new platform bringing the business of citizenship and immigration into the 21st century. Although the project had a troubled history, Soyoung was able within a few months to fully assess the challenges and to start putting in place a plan of action to create one strong team where business and product/technical groups shared the same goal and purpose. She is a practical and courageous innovator. She is able to inspire and motivate officers and support staff.
Frank Ruddock, Coordinator for Pan-African Affairs, in the Africa Bureau of DFAIT, is being honoured this year as a winner of the PAFSO Award for his outstanding policy and corporate advice and service he has provided to the Africa Bureau as well as to all of DFAIT, its missions abroad and the entire inter-departmental community dealing with issues touching on Africa. He has an in-depth knowledge of the Canada/Africa dynamic, providing consistent and sound policy advice. He possesses the skills of a model foreign service officer. He delivers lucid tightly focussed analyses. He has a long-standing dedication and commitment to serve Canada. He is effective in interacting with the bureaucratic culture of DFAIT, the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Privy Council. Senior management in the Africa Bureau recognize him as the pillar of that Bureau and the glue that holds it together. He provides continuity and strategic guidance on African issues. His dedication and professionalism set the standard of excellence he inspires as a colleague and mentor to younger foreign service officers.
The Canadian Foreign Service Officer Awards were instituted in 1990 by PAFSO to acknowledge exceptional achievements by career foreign service officers.
Judges for this year's Awards were: Mr. Michael Kergin (Chairman of the Judges' Panel); the Hon. James Bartleman, Mr. Brian Davis, Mr. John de Chastelain, Mr. Don Newman, and Mrs. Louise Terrillon-Mackay.
In addition to the four PAFSO Awards, one other prize was presented at the PAFSO Dinner on June 11, 2009. Mr. Nicholas Coghlan was the winner of the Retired Heads of Mission Association (RHOMA) sponsored prize for best article in bout de papier magazine. His article, "Pastoral Pursuits in Pakistan's Punjab" appeared in Volume 23, No. 4. He received a framed Award and cheque. Honourable Mention went to Ms Liza Linkater for her review "Portrait in LIght and Shadow: the Life of Yousuf Karsh" Vol. 23 No. 4.
2008 PAFSO AWARD RECIPIENTS
Left to right: Anne Martel, Michael Watts, Joanne Lemay (absent Tim Kilbourn)
The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 PAFSO Canadian Foreign Service Officer Awards presented on June 12, 2008 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Tim Kilbourn, Counsellor (Immigration), at the Canadian Embassy in Moscow has been selected as a PAFSO Award Winner for his outstanding efforts under very difficult circumstances. He was assigned to Moscow in 2005 in advance of the establishment of a new Area Management model for CIC and the implementation of changes within the Immigration Section. When his Program Manager became ill and later passed away, full responsibility fell on Mr. Kilbourn to implement the changes, provide leadership to his section, and deal with a minor “visa war”. The dispute resulted in the denial of a visa to a new Canada-based officer expected to come on posting to the Embassy as well as uncertainty and delays in the issuance of Russian visas for other officers going on posting to Moscow and for temporary emergency help from Canada necessary to alleviate the serious staffing shortage in the Immigration Section. This resulted in the section operating for several months at 50% - 60% of its normal strength, and long hours and high levels of stress for the staff. He provided hands on support to his staff and led by example, bringing a “can do” approach to client service while ensuring that inadmissibility concerns were appropriately addressed. He was particularly effective in maintaining morale and momentum in this process. He also led an initiative to prod various agencies in Ottawa to speed up their response times on key visa applications.
Joanne Lemay is being honoured with a PAFSO Award this year in recognition of her work both abroad, as Consul in Guadalajara, and in headquarters for her work in organizing six of the Deputy Minister for International Trade’s regional symposia - “The TCS Global Team: Making it Happen for Canada”. While in Mexico, she developed an excellent and effective team of two Canada-based employees and seven locally engaged employees. Though a micro mission, the Guadalajara trade team ranked among the top 4 missions in identifying business leads for Canadian clients in both 2004 and 2005. Her work on the Deputy Minister of International Trade’s six regional symposia reflected a great degree of strategic thinking, careful thought for the melding of diverse inputs into a focussed, informative and interactive program. The Symposia have positioned the Trade Commissioner Service to respond creatively and effectively to the new and emerging challenges of assisting Canadian business around the world.
Anne Martel, Commercial Counsellor, the Canadian Embassy, Rome, is being honoured with a PAFSO Award for her work resolving issues threatening access to the key Italian market for the export of Canadian durum wheat. She deployed specific local knowledge and language skills to develop and expand her local network which she mobilized to defend core Canadian interests. Through her hard work and her clear reporting to all interested Canadian actors, she not only helped solve the specific problem facing Canadian durum wheat exports in 2005-06, but helped develop a course of action that diminished the probability of further impediments to Canadian exports. In December 2005, a magistrate in southeastern Italy ordered the seizure of two shipments of Canadian durum wheat, claiming that it contained unacceptable levels of a dangerous toxin. This put at risk Canadian exports of more than 400,000 tonnes of durum wheat annually to Italy, representing exports worth about $100 million in an average year. She assisted in gaining the Italian government’s acceptance of the need for a science-based approach. Her pragmatic and positive approach to problem-solving over a period of months contributed to her ability to help bring this chapter to a very successful and satisfactory conclusion for Canada and the Canadian interests she protected and promoted. The classic work of a Canadian foreign service officer.
Michael Watts has been honoured as a winner of the PAFSO Award for his high level of performance in a variety of assignments including as Immigration Program Manager in Accra, Ghana. He is currently the Director, Geographic Operations, Asia-Pacific/Americas in CIC. While in Ghana he had area responsibility for the immigration movement from Liberia and was required to deal with numerous cases of child adoptions from Liberia by Canadians. There were serious concerns regarding reliability of the adoption process. He developed reliable sources of information in Liberia and dedicated himself to providing excellent client service to the prospective Canadian parents while at the same time paying close attention to ensuring the potential adopted child was protected from human trafficking. He is a team player, playing key roles in the High Commission during the visit of the Governor General to Ghana and during the evacuation of Canadians from Cote d’Ivoire to Ghana. Acceptance Remarks/Video
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2007 Canadian Foreign Service Officer Award Recipients
2006 Canadian Foreign Service Officer Award Recipients
2005 Canadian Foreign Service Officer Award Recipients
2004 Canadian Foreign Service Officer Award Recipients
2003 Canadian Foreign Service Officer Award Recipients
June 12, 2003 Awards Dinner - Photos
2002 Canadian Foreign Service Officer Award Recipients
2001 Canadian Foreign Service Officer Award Recipients
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