Michael Leir


Michael Leir is a Canadian former diplomat Leir was High Commissioner to Australia, and he also represented Canada in the following nations: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau and Nauru. He served in those roles from 2005 until 2010.

Life and career

Leir received both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University, in 1971 and 1974 respectively. He studied for a Masters in Law at the University of London in 1975.
He joined the then-Department of External Affairs in 1976 and served in numerous diplomatic positions, including as the lead Canadian lawyer in implementing the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Directors General of United States Relations for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Prior to his posting in Australia, he was the Canadian Ambassador to Turkey.