Canada's Place in a Leaderless World: The 2026 UTM Public Affairs Lecture
On Monday, March 9, 2026, the Department of Political Science welcomed Kerry Buck to the MN Grand Hall for the 2026 UTM Public Affairs Lecture.
Under the title "Canada's Place in a Leaderless World," Buck brought three decades of diplomatic experience to bear on one of the most pressing questions in contemporary international affairs: how Canada positions itself and exercises influence in a global order increasingly defined by instability and the absence of clear multilateral leadership.
Buck served as a career diplomat for thirty years, holding appointments as Canada's Ambassador to NATO, Political Director, and Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for International Security, Africa, Latin America, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. Throughout her career, she represented Canada at the G7, NATO, and the United Nations, negotiating on issues spanning human rights, international security, humanitarian law, and disarmament. She is currently a Senior Fellow at the University of Ottawa's School of Public and International Affairs, where she continues to contribute to policy research and debate on Canada's international role.
The annual Public Affairs Lecture brings leading voices from government, diplomacy, and public policy to UTM, creating an opportunity for students, faculty, and the broader community to engage directly with practitioners whose work has shaped Canadian foreign policy. The department thanks Kerry Buck for a timely and thought-provoking conversation!
