Michael Eyestone

Background

About Michael Eyestone

I am a Canadian Foreign Service Officer, currently leading the team of desk officers responsible for political relations with 15 countries of Central and Eastern Europe at Canada's foreign ministry, mostly along the "eastern flank"- from Estonia to Bulgaria. In 2019-2020, I participating in the 13th National Security Program (NSP) at the Canadian Forces College (CFC, Canada's graduate-level military university). Previously Chargé at the Office of the Embassy of Canada in Tallinn, Estonia, leading on Canada-Estonia relations, and simultaneously Senior Trade Commissioner for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Over 2016-2019, I held the same assignment as I do now, DD for political relations with various countries in Europe. Before that, I helped coordinate Canada's and the Prime Minister's participation in the G7 and G20 global summit processes, as Canada's G7 Foreign Affairs Sous Sherpa Assistant (FASS Assistant). Over 2011-2015, I led the team undertaking Canada’s trade and investment promotion efforts at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C. as the Embassy's Senior Trade Commissioner, where I also provided leadership on Canada-U.S. defense trade policy, science and technology cooperation, and cooperation on transportation and space. Going further back, from 2007-2011 I was lead economist and head of the Economic and Financial Section at the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo, Japan, responsible to spearhead efforts to open free trade negotiations between Canada and Japan. I managed Canada-Japan economic and financial relations during the crisis of 2008-09, and energy and environment relations following the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011. My particular areas of expertise include macroeconomic analysis and developing and conveying policy advice to government leaders at the highest levels. I have spent more than 30 years perfecting an ability to communicate complex, data-driven advice to guide action. My education includes a B.Comm. in Marketing from the University of British Columbia, an M.Phil. in Management, Economics and Politics from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and a Master of Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto.