John McNee has been Secretary General of the Global Centre for Pluralism from 2011 to 2019. A career diplomat, he served as Canada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2006-2011. During his career, he also served as Canadian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, Syria and Lebanon and Canada’s representative to the Council of Europe. In addition, he was posted to Tel Aviv, London and Madrid. John McNee joined the Department of External Affairs in 1978 and worked in various capacities in the Department including as Assistant Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East. He also served in the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat of the Privy Council Office. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), (Glendon College, York University, 1973) and a Master of Arts in History (Cambridge University, 1975). He was Canada Scholar at Cambridge 1973-1975. In 2017, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.) by the Governor General.
John McNee
