Peter Harrison

Dr. Peter Harrison is Professor, Stauffer-Dunning Chair and Director of the School of Policy Studies (SPS) at Queen’s University. Dr. Harrison’s career as a senior member of the Public Service of Canada lasted nearly 30 years. During this time he served as the Deputy Minister (Permanent Secretary) of a number of federal departments. Dr. Harrison was responsible for shepherding the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by the Government of Canada in 2003; the investment of $150 million in the International Polar Year; and, as Senior Associate Deputy Minister of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, the development of the Government’s current Northern Strategy, the commitment to a new “High Arctic Research Station,” and the Canada-UK Memorandum of Understanding regarding Arctic Research. Dr. Harrison is a Geographer by profession. He holds a B.A. Hon. (1st cl.) from the London School of Economics and Political Science; an M.A. from the University of Victoria (British Columbia), and a PhD from the University of Washington (Seattle). Dr. Harrison’s research, writing and teaching focus on ocean and coastal management with particular reference to the Arctic Ocean and Arctic policy. He is a Fellow, Governor and Vice President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and was awarded the Gold Medal celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to Public Service. Dr. Harrison is also a recipient of the J.B. Nicholls award for his lifetime contributions to ocean and coastal management in Canada and around the world.