Nadir Patel is senior strategic advisor in our business law group. He provides strategic advice on regulatory affairs, global government relations, ESG-related matters, and doing business in international markets.

Prior to joining us, Nadir held a series of high-level government positions over a distinguished career in Canada's public service. Most recently, he served as Canada's high commissioner for the Republic of India, where he oversaw Canada's largest embassy abroad with eight offices across the country. He managed Canada's presence and programs in India and the nearby region, including political and diplomatic relations, security and defence ties, public affairs, consular, migration, and developing one of Canada's fastest growing commercial relationships where he addressed complex market access issues, advised on two-way market entry and investment strategies with Canadian and Indian CEOs, their executive teams and senior government leaders.

Prior to his arrival in India, Nadir served as assistant deputy minister and chief financial officer for Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, where his mandate included strategic planning, finance, human resources, labour relations, information technology, risk management, contracting, procurement, and real property.

In 2009 to 2011, Nadir was Canada's consul general in Shanghai, managing Canada's presence in Eastern China, facilitating trade, investment and political relations, and promoting Canada's participation in World Expo 2010. Prior to that, Nadir held a series of high-level government positions, including chief of staff to the national security advisor to the prime minister, where he helped write Canada's first national security policy. He also served as senior policy advisor to the Clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet, and subsequently became Canada's chief air negotiator, negotiating an unprecedented 43 international airspace treaties, including a groundbreaking open-skies agreement with the European Union.

Nadir began his career as a tax auditor at the Kitchener-Waterloo offices of Revenue Canada, and subsequently served in progressively senior positions in the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency's offices in Montreal and Ottawa, including senior departmental assistant to the minister of national revenue, director of ministerial services, and corporate secretary.

Nadir is managing director at Fairfax Consulting, strategic advisor to the president of Huron University, and on the boards of Canadian Tire Corporation and Jumpstart Charities. He has served on several private, Crown corporation, and not-for-profit boards, and is a frequent speaker/presenter.