Sara Hradecky
Sara Hradecky retired in 2019 from a diplomatic career, having served in Canadian missions abroad since joining Global Affairs Canada in 1983. She began her career as a Trade Commissioner in Buenos Aires, Argentina, followed by postings in Belgrade, Serbia and Tel Aviv, Israel. In 1997, Ms. Hradecky was appointed Canada’s first Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Returning to Ottawa, she was Director of International Trade Finance, and then Director General of International Business Policy and Innovation, a portfolio that includes trade finance, Crown Corporation governance (related to Export Development Canada and the Canadian Commercial Corporation), and International Science and Technology Policy. In 2006, Ms. Hradecky was appointed Ambassador of Canada to the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. From 2009 to 2011, Ms. Hradecky served at the Privy Council Office as Assistant Deputy Minister and Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for the Afghanistan Task Force. From 2011 to 2015, Ms. Hradecky was Canada’s Ambassador to Mexico. From there, Ms. Hradecky was appointed Canada’s High Commissioner to Nairobi, Kenya, with concurrent accreditations as Ambassador to Somalia and Burundi, High Commissioner to Uganda and Rwanda, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi (UN Environment and UN Habitat).
Ms. Hradecky is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and she serves as a member of the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee of the Board.
Ms. Hradecky has a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from Carleton University (Ottawa) as well as a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Science (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, USA). She speaks English, French, Spanish and Czech. Ms. Hradecky has had a lifelong interest in the arts, notably theatre and music, and is also an avid adventure traveler, the more exotic the destination, the better.