Biographical Note

New Special Representative of INTERPOL Presents Appointment Letter

 

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

The new Special Representative of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to the United Nations, William Elliott, presented his letter of appointment to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki‑moon today.

During his post, he will work to facilitate and enhance cooperation between INTERPOL and the United Nations and its agencies on matters of terrorism and transnational organized crime and international police cooperation.  INTERPOL is the world’s largest police organization, with member countries on five continents.

In 2009, Mr. Elliott was elected to INTERPOL’s Executive Committee as a Delegate for the Americas.  Prior to being appointed Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2007, Mr. Elliott served in a variety of senior executive positions in the Canadian civil service, including as National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Canada from 2005 to 2006 and Associate Deputy Minister of Public Safety.

In 2003, he was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence. In that role, he supported the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, and was Secretary of the Cabinet Committee on Security, Public Health and Emergencies.  From 2000 to 2003 he was Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, at Transport Canada.

Mr Elliott was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard in 1998.  Prior to that, he served in the Department of Justice, and was appointed Head of Legal Services for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.  He joined the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada in 1988, after practicing law in Ottawa.

Mr. Elliott obtained a bachelor’s degree in arts (1976) and a bachelor’s degree in common law (1979), both from the University of Ottawa.  He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1981, appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1992, and a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2007.

He and his wife Carolyn have four children.

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For information media • not an official record