CIGI's New Man to Lead Arctic Governance Project

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) appoints John Higginbotham as senior fellow.

At CIGI, an independent, non-partisan think tank on international governance, Mr. Higginbotham will play a key role in leading CIGI’s global security project on Arctic governance.

Mr. Higginbotham is also a senior distinguished fellow at Carleton University, where has he been working on the Arctic, China and the United States as well as a transportation studies initiative drawing on the strengths of Carleton’s Faculties of Business, Public Administration and Engineering.

His work with the Government of Canada, including several international assignments, spans over thirty years. He served as assistant deputy minister in three departments, during which he coordinated Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative at Transport Canada. He has served abroad in senior positions in Washington for six years, Hong Kong for five years, and served in Beijing on two occasions, as trade commissioner and political counselor.

Mr. Higginbotham has served as vice president at the Canada School of Public Service, focusing on Canada-US relations, and as assistant deputy minister for policy planning, communications, culture and federal-provincial relations at Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Mr. Higginbotham speaks English, French and Chinese. He was educated at the University of Saskatchewan, Ibadan University, McGill University, and Harvard University as a Visiting International Fellow.

“John has a distinguished career studying and implementing programs in areas of governance that are of critical importance to CIGI’s global security program,” said David Dewitt, vice president of programs at CIGI. “His knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to the success of CIGI’s research on the Arctic.”

“The shrinking of the Arctic icecap will pose unique challenges to governance at all levels over coming decades. Historic opportunities and risks abound. Arctic maritime, economic, and security issues are key dimensions of this challenge, and CIGI will work on the leading edge of these and other critical Arctic issues,” said the newly appointed CIGI Senior Fellow.