Gerald Cossette

Gérald Cossette was appointed Director of FINTRAC on October 15, 2012, and Chair of the Heads of Federal Agencies in July 2013. Prior to this, he served as Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (starting in June 2009) and as the Prime Minister’s personal representative for the G8 and the Nuclear Security Summit (beginning in October 2010).

Mr. Cossette started his career as a Foreign Service Officer in 1982 and, until 1995, he held various positions at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Nairobi (Kenya) and Washington (United States).

In 1996, he moved to the Privy Council Office where his main responsibilities included Canada-Europe relations. He was assigned to the Treasury Board Secretariat in 1999 as Director of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Division, then as Executive Director of the Management Strategies Division in charge of the team that developed the new governance framework for Crown corporations.

Mr. Cossette returned to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2005 as Head of the Corporate Task Force and Director General, Strategic Planning and Resource Coordination. In July 2006, he took over as Chief Executive Officer of Passport Canada. In addition to his responsibilities as CEO, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, Summit Management Office, in 2009.

Mr. Cossette received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. As well, under his leadership, Passport Canada was awarded the Public Service Award of Excellence and the Institute of Public Administration/Deloitte Public Sector Leadership (Gold) Award.

Mr. Cossette received his formal education in Social Sciences from Laval University in Québec City and in Public Administration at Carleton University.