The Honourable John Hannaford is a former Canadian public servant with three decades of experience in international affairs, law, and public administration, most recently serving as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet.
Mr. Hannaford joined the federal public service at the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1995 as a newly minted lawyer, working on issues ranging from maritime jurisdictions and environmental law to trade policy. Over the next two decades, he represented the Government of Canada on high-profile international and domestic files, from free trade negotiations to foreign and defence policy. This included senior leadership roles such as Foreign and Defence Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister, Deputy Minister of International Trade, and Deputy Minister of Natural Resources. From 2009 to 2012, he also served abroad as Canada’s Ambassador to Norway.
Mr. Hannaford was named the 25th Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet in June 2023. In this role, his leadership helped steer Canada’s response to emerging trade and security challenges and supported the government in implementing signature priorities, including a middle-class tax cut, stronger border security measures, and legislation aimed at building one Canadian economy. As Head of the Public Service, he also championed a renewed dialogue on values and ethics to guide federal employees in serving Canadians in an increasingly complex environment, while advancing efforts to modernize the public service, strengthen accountability, and build institutional resilience in the face of rapid technological and geopolitical change.
Mr. Hannaford retired from the public service in July 2025. In recognition of his contributions, he was appointed a member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada.
Mr. Hannaford holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from Queen’s University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Science in international relations from the London School of Economics. He and his wife, Anne, have two adult children.