John Barett

John Barrett Ph.D., Ambassador (ret’d), is President, Portolan Global Inc., a consulting firm specializing in Government & Stakeholder Relations in the nuclear energy sector. His areas of expertise include diplomacy & international governance relating to nuclear technology; policy advice on the role of nuclear energy and SMRs in decarbonization strategies; and sustainability/ESG profiles for nuclear sector companies. Dr. Barrett is the former President & CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association, representing nuclear industry companies across Canada. Before leading CNA, he served as Canada’s Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency and chaired the IAEA Board of Governors. He was Canada’s Ambassador to Austria and Slovakia, as well as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization and the United Nations in Vienna.

At Global Affairs Canada, Dr. Barrett served as Director General, Strategic Planning & Coordination and Director for Disarmament & WMD Non-Proliferation. He has held executive positions in the Privy Council Office, Office of the Governor General, National Defence, and as Director of Policy Planning in the NATO International Staff (Brussels).

Dr. Barrett is a graduate of the University of Toronto and holds a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. Currently, he chairs the Board of Directors of Neutrons Canada and is a director of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (Vienna) and the RadiationSafety Institute of Canada. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.