New Canadian Consul is Appointed in Atlanta

Nadia Theodore has been appointed Consul General in Atlanta for the Southeast United States, the Canadian government announced.

Theodore succeeds Louise Blais who was appointed Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in August. Theodore attended the Business Council of Alabama’s Chairman’s Dinner last week in Birmingham.

“The BCA family welcomes Nadia Theodore to this important trade mission in the Southeast,” BCA President and CEO William J. Canary said. “Canada is a significant economic partner to Alabama and this office has been tirelessly promoting economic trade and tourism between Alabama and Canada.

“Canada continues to have outstanding representation in trade circles and we look forward to working closely with our northern neighbor with whom trade is so important,” Canary said.

Canada is the largest or the second-largest export market for each of the six Southeastern states. Two-way trade between Canada and the six states was more than $53 billion in 2014. An estimated 1 million jobs in the six states depend on trade with Canada.

Theodore served most recently in Ottawa as chief of staff and executive director to Canada’s deputy minister for international trade. Her career has been Trade Agreement and Negotiations Branch of Global Affairs and held leadership positions on several recent and major trade initiatives of Global Affairs Canada.

Theodore’s appointment comes as Canada, Mexico, and the United States have launched negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement. As part of Canada’s international trade negotiating team, Theodore has built a reputation for forging strong partnerships with government and business leaders and managing complex, priority trade initiatives, her announcement release said.

Beyond trade negotiations, she helped Canada’s Trade and Investment Strategy, which is focused on ways to continue to help Canadian companies connect, compete and grow internationally.

Theodore holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of London and an M.A. in Political Science from Carleton University. She is married and has one child.

The Atlanta office represents Canada in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.