Daniel Gagnier

Daniel Gagnier "is Alcan Inc.’s senior vice president, Corporate and External Affairs. In this position, his responsibilities include corporate communications, government relations and environment, health and safety. Mr. Gagnier was appointed vice president, Corporate Affairs in December 1994 and in 1995 his responsibilities were expanded to include environment, occupational health and safety issues for Alcan on a worldwide basis. Mr. Gagnier assumed the added responsibilities of his current position in September 2000.

"Prior to joining Alcan in 1994, Mr. Gagnier held a number of positions with the governments of Canada, Ontario and Saskatchewan. From 1972 to 1982, the Department of External Affairs posted him overseas to diplomatic assignments in Mexico, Yugoslavia and the United Kingdom, as well as to functions in Ottawa. Between 1982 and 1984, he was the executive director of the Canadian Unity Information Office, part of the federal Department of Justice, following which he was appointed by the Privy Council Office as assistant secretary to the Cabinet (Communications). In 1985, Mr. Gagnier joined the Saskatchewan government as deputy minister, economic development and trade, a position he held until 1987.

"He returned to Ottawa in 1987 to become assistant secretary to the Cabinet responsible for economic policy and programs, at the Federal-Provincial Relations Office. From 1988 to 1990, he worked for the Ontario government in Toronto as deputy minister of energy; deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs; special adviser to the Cabinet; and chief of staff of the Premier’s Office. Following this period at Queen’s Park, Mr. Gagnier returned once again to Ottawa, where he served as deputy secretary to the Cabinet (Communications) and adviser at the Privy Council Office until 1992. From 1992 to 1994, he was president of the Brewers Association of Canada.

"Mr. Gagnier is Chair of the International Organization for Standardization’s technical committee on Environmental Management (ISO/TC 207) and Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group on Social Responsibility for ISO. In 2004, Mr. Gagnier was named Chairman, Board of Directors, for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

"Mr. Gagnier is a graduate of Loyola College and McGill University, and a fellow of the Australian National University in Canberra. He was born in Montreal in 1946." 


 * Chair, International Institute for Sustainable Development