Draft:Paul R. Samson

Paul R. Samson is a Canadian expert on governance. He is president of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). His current work is focused on the transformation of the global economy and society through digitization and artificial intelligence, scenarios for an evolving world order, and institutional global governance challenges.

Early life and education
Samson was born and raised on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in Victoria (Saanich) and spent as much time as he could in Tofino. He graduated from Mount Douglas Secondary School.

Samson received a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from the University of British Columbia. He completed a master's degree and received a Doctorate in international relations at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. He completed post-doctoral studies in global environment assessment at Harvard University in 1998. As a student, Samson completed an internship with UNCTAD as well as fellowships with the US Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Washington, DC policy office) and the Peace Research Institute in Oslo.

Career
In Geneva, Samson worked with Mikhail Gorbachev at Green Cross International and was later a was a research fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government.

His early research was on global environmental policy, with a particular focus on the Arctic region, climate change and the human impact on the evolution of the biosphere. Today, he is an expert on the subject of the global economy's transformation through digitization and artificial intelligence, scenarios for an evolving world order and institutional global governance challenges.

Samson worked with the Government of Canada for 24 years, including 19 years as an executive. He began as a senior policy analyst with Natural Resources Canada, later moving to become the Policy Research Directorate program director with the former Environment Canada. He worked in the Privy Council Office from 2002 to 2006 during the tenure of three different prime ministers. Samson went on to hold other positions including, director general of strategic policy at the former Canadian International Development Agency and assistant deputy minister-level roles with Global Affairs Canada, Finance Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. His last position was as Associate Deputy Minister at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Samson frequently led Canadian delegations for meetings with multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, and the United Nations.

Advisory roles and boards

 * Board Member, Board of Directors, Centre for International Governance Innovation (2016–2021)
 * Director for Canada, Egypt and Ethiopia, Board of Directors, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (2018-19)
 * Finance and Central Bank Deputy for Canada, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) (2015-19)
 * Co-chair, G20 Framework Working Group (2015-19)
 * Deputy for Canada, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (2010–2013)
 * Council Member, Global Environment Facility (2010-13)
 * Commissioner, International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice (2007-08)
 * Co-chair, Network on Environment and Development Co-operation (ENVIRONET), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (2004-06).
 * United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) (2005).

Publications
Paul Samson. 1997. Thin Ice: International Environmental Co-operation in the Arctic Region. Auckland: Pacific Press.

Paul Samson and D. Pitt. 1999. The Biosphere and Noosphere— A Reader in Global Environment, Society and Change. London/ New York: Routledge. Foreword by Mikhail Gorbachev.

Paul Samson. 2001. "Canadian Circumstances: The Evolution of Canada's Climate Change Policy ", Energy & Environment, Vol. 12 (no. 2/3), pp. 199-215.

Personal life
Samson is married to Rachel Samson and has three children. He is active in various outdoor activities, including skiing and trekking. He has served as a local volunteer soccer coach and hockey manager.