Mr. Edwards retired in 2010 after 41 years in Canada’s Public Service, including 9 years at the deputy minister level. He was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007–2010), of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2004–2007) and of International Trade (2001–2004). Mr. Edwards was the G8 and G20 Sherpa under Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2008 to July 2010. 

Within Canada’s foreign service, he served as Ambassador to Japan and Ambassador to Korea and was Assistant Deputy Minister for both Trade and Economic Policy and Asia-Pacific Affairs. From 1994-97 he was Canada’s Senior APEC Official and oversaw preparations for the 1997 APEC Summit in Vancouver. He led the host logistical teams that organized the 1988 and 1995 Economic Summits and the 1987 Commonwealth Heads of Government.  He had postings in the former Saigon and Hanoi, Ankara, Brussels (where he worked in the NATO Secretariat) and Geneva with Canada’s Mission to the United Nations and the GATT. 

In retirement, Mr. Edwards’ activities have included roles as a distinguished fellow of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, board memberships in the not-for-profit sector, and strategic adviser to a major Canadian law firm.  

He is currently a distinguished fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo, and a policy fellow at the Johnson-Shoyama School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan.