Ms. Hanna joined the Office of the Chief Science Advisor in August 2018 and is the lead on international activities and engagement.  Prior to this position, Sandy was a Senior Policy Advisor in International Relations at Transport Canada (2015-2018) and was the primary advisor for Europe and the G7 Transport Ministers’ Meetings.  She also contributed to the department’s international engagement strategy.

 

Ms. Hanna joined Transport Canada in 2009 as a Policy Analyst with the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI), a cross-departmental,   high-profile initiative. As part of the coordination unit for the APGCI, Sandy and her colleagues were responsible for supporting the Asia-Pacific Gateway Minister on policy and public engagement matters. In 2010, Sandy took on additional responsibilities as Senior Communications Advisor.

 

Prior to joining the federal government, Sandy worked for the Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program (2004-2009) and was responsible for the communications and outreach portfolio in addition to managing board relations. In 2007-08, Ms. Hanna took a leave from her position at the Fulbright office to work at the Jordan Times, the largest English language daily paper in Amman, Jordan, as an editor and freelance journalist. In 2003-2004, Sandy worked at the then-Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as a communications consultant.

 

A native of Grand-Mere, Québec, Ms. Hanna is fluent in French and English. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree in Political Studies from Queen’s University, and a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa.