Diana Fox Carney appointed Canada's 1st ocean envoy, chair of Our Ocean Conference

Halifax to host international conference on ocean conservation in 2027

Diana Fox Carney — Prime Minister Mark Carney's wife — is stepping into a newly conceived, unpaid role focused on ocean conservation.

As the country's first ocean envoy, Fox Carney will "advance Canada's leadership by connecting ocean conservation, climate action, Indigenous leadership, economic resilience and maritime security," according to a news release.

Fox Carney will also chair the 12th annual Our Ocean Conference, an international gathering that convenes governments, organizations and academics to address modern ocean issues.

The conference will take place in Halifax next year.

"Canada has an opportunity to showcase its leadership in ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, ocean science and Indigenous-led stewardship" at the 2027 conference, Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said in a statement.

"I look forward to working with Diana Fox Carney on this important conference for Canada."

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The announcement said the upcoming conference is an important step toward Ottawa's commitment to protect 30 per cent of Canada's marine and coastal areas by 2030.

"The conference will provide an opportunity to deepen co-operation, share knowledge and experience and secure commitments to ensure healthy and sustainable oceans for future generations," Fox Carney said in a statement.

Career in economics, environment

Until now, Fox Carney's role largely remained on the periphery of her husband's first 18 months as Canada's 24th prime minister.

Having originally drawn Carney's attention by skating circles around her hockey opponents at the University of Oxford — where they were both students and where the now prime minister played goalie on the men's team — Fox Carney has built a notable career as an economist and environmentalist in her own right.

Fox Carney holds master's degrees in agricultural economics from Oxford and international relations from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Throughout her career, Fox Carney has served on the boards of a number of not-for-profit organizations and has held senior roles at prominent think-tanks in both Canada and the U.K., championing environmental issues and income equality among other issues.

In 2013, she drew controversy over a paper she contributed to the Canada 2020 think-tank looking to reignite discussions on carbon pricing in Canada.

In 2021, Fox Carney started a new role as senior adviser at the Eurasia Group, a political research and consulting firm which offers advice to businesses and politicians around the world.

David Cummings is a reporter for CBC News.