Ms. Heather Dryden
Ms. Dryden currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor at the International Telecommunications Policy and Coordination Directorate at the Canadian Department of Industry (Industry Canada). Ms. Dryden is based in Ottawa.
Ms. Dryden has worked for the Department since 2002 and holds a BSc. (Econ) (Hons) Degree in International Politics and Strategic Studies, now specialising in Russian Studies. She has lead responsibility for Internet governance and Domain Name System (DNS) policy matters. In this role, Ms. Dryden coordinates and develops Canadian government positions and policy, and represents Canada on the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) – currently serving as interim GAC chair. Ms. Dryden also represents Industry Canada, in an ex-officio capacity, on the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) Board of Directors and participates in the American Registry for Internet Numbers – Government Working Group (AGWG).
Ms. Dryden also has responsibilities within the United Nations system on Internet-related matters, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). She has also been appointed to serve on the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) since 2008. Ms. Dryden also participated in the Canadian delegation to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and its related preparatory negotiations in 2004-2005.
In addition to Internet matters, and drawing on her educational background in International Politics and Russian Studies, Ms. Dryden’s experience also includes working at the NATO Information Office in Moscow immediately before joining Industry Canada. Ms. Dryden has also worked on capacity-building programs funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Ms. Dryden speaks English and French and has a working knowledge of Russian.
Ms. Dryden was selected by the Governmental Advisory Committee to serve as Interim Chair at the Brussels meeting until the conclusion of the first GAC meeting of 2011. Heather has now been elected to a full term as Chair of the GAC. This term will expire at the end of the first meeting of 2013.
