BILL REID

B. Eng. (Electrical) 

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Mr. Reid is a graduate in electrical engineering of the University of Toronto. Upon graduation, he received an Athlone Fellowship for a two year program of work and study in the UK, leaving the University of Cambridge with a Certificate in Control Engineering. 

 

Upon his return to Canada after highiking around the world for seven months, his career spanned three federal departments in Ottawa: National Defence (combat systems engineer with the Canadian Navy); Industry, Trade and Commerce (ITC) where he ran commercial defence trade with the US; and finally, External Affairs and International Trade, where his first posting was to the High Commission in London as Commercial Counselor responsible for defence trade promotion to the UK Ministry of Defence. His second posting was to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where he was responsible for the promotion of defence and high technology trade.

 

In between foreign postings, he was responsible for trade with South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka). In this capacity, he was the Canadian Secretary for the Canada-India Coal Working Group where his Indian counterpart was the Chairman of Coal India (at that time, the world's largest employer). That experience has led him to the conclusion that the third world cannot be scolded into the use of boutique alternate energy.

 

Mr. Reid also served briefly in the China shop where he was responsible for the business aspects of the highly successful 1995 Canadian mission to China led by Prime Minister Chretien, seven provincial premiers, and over 200 Canadian companies.