Bathinda: Punjab-origin Angad Singh Dhillon has been appointed Canada’s next ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United Arab Emirates.Dhillon, whose appointment was announced by Canadian foreign affairs minister Anita Anand on Sep 25, will succeed Radha Krishna Panday as Canada’s ambassador to the UAE.According to Global Affairs Canada, the govt department that manages Canada’s diplomatic and consular relations, Dhillon most recently served as director of operations and stakeholder relations in the office of Prime Minister Mark Carney. He had earlier served as chief of staff to two federal ministers handling the small business and transport portfolios. In these roles, he supported Canada’s engagements at the G7, G20, UN General Assembly, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, International Transport Forum and Conference of the Parties.As one of Carney’s advisers, Dhillon supported the govt’s efforts to re-engage with key bilateral partners, including India and China, by helping restore high-level channels of communication and cooperation. He also led stakeholder coordination for incoming investment commitments into Canada, including the development and planning of the country’s inaugural national Investment Summit.Dhillon joined the Liberal Party in 2015 as a field organiser in the Peel region, which has 11 parliamentary constituencies. He later moved to Ottawa and worked with the Liberal Research Bureau before taking up roles in the federal govt. Dhillon’s family traces its roots to Ghungrana village in Ludhiana. His grandfather, Jagjit Singh Ghungrana, was a progressive farmer and farm leader in the area.His father, Naininder Singh Dhillon, expressed deep admiration for Canada’s inclusive recognition of immigrant talent. “Look at the Canadian people and govt that they have recognised the talent, merit, commitment of an immigrant and given that appointment,” Naininder Singh Dhillon said.
