The Honorable Geoffrey Pearson O.C.,
Canada

Mr. Geoffrey was born in Toronto on December 25, 1927 and educated at the University of Toronto and at Oxford University.

He joined the Department of External Affairs of Canada in 1952. In Ottawa, Mr. Pearson served in the range of senior assignments in the Department, including Chairman of the Policy Analysis Group, Director of the Bureau of United Nation Affairs and Adviser on Disarmament and Arms Control Affairs. He held diplomatic post appointments at Canadian Embassies in Parris, Mexico City and at the High Commission in New Delhi. From 1980 to 1983, he served as Canada's Ambassador to the USSR.

In late 1983, Mr. Pearson was appointed as a Special Representative of the Prime Minister to for Arms Control. He was the first Executive Director of the Canadian Institute for International Peace and Security from 1985 to 1989. Since retirement, he has served on the boards of a number of Human rights and international development organizations. He became National President of the United Nations Associations in Canada in 1999. In February 2001, Mr. Pearson was invested as an Officer in the Order of Canada.

Mr. Pearson is married to the former Ladon Mackenzie and they have five children. He is the author of Seize the Day: Lester B. Pearson and Crisis Diplomacy, published by Carlton University Press in 1993.