Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Korea Tamara Mawhinney ’87 (LLB ’91, U of T) joined Global Affairs Canada in 1993. She began her career as a Cabinet Liaison Officer and then as a Lawyer within the International Trade Law Division. Assignments overseas included Mission of Canada to the UN in New York, Embassy of Canada to France, Paris, and Mission of Canada to the European Union in Brussels where she served as Political section head. After serving for two years as Advisor to Mme Michaëlle Jean, Secretary-General of La Francophonie in Paris, she returned to Ottawa in 2016 to lead the UN Security Council campaign team. Ambassador Tamara joined Canada’s Mission to the UN in Geneva in the summer of 2018 as Deputy Permanent Representative.
TRIN: Why did you choose Trinity, and what role did Trinity College play in your growth and development?
TM: Trinity appealed very much to me because of the strong sense of community that it offered combined with the high academic standards of the University of Toronto. I lived abroad for much of my childhood, I didn’t know anyone else starting their studies in Canada and was still very young (in age and outlook) as I started my undergraduate studies. So, I was looking for a place to grow and learn with lots of support. It was also a chance to get to know Toronto. With no family or friends in Toronto at the time, the option of remaining in residence for the duration of my undergraduate studies was also appealing.
TRIN: Earlier this year, you spoke at an International Women’s Day event about investing in women and girls. You spoke about the role of your father in your life as an advocate for gender equality and his support of your ambitions. You also talked about your first academic advisor at Trinity dismissing your aspirations to attend law school, and the gender barriers you faced later as you entered the law profession. How would things be different if you were that student today?
TM: Maybe in some ways that academic advisor did me a favour! His advice didn’t so much discourage me as confirm the need to find a program that inspired me and to get down to work. In his defense, I probably didn’t strike him as very impressive! I had some homework to do. Today, I feel as though we have really overcome some significant challenges—there are many more opportunities that are more accessible. We have good legislative and regulatory frameworks in place as well to overcome barriers and achieve equality of opportunity. But there are still the invisible barriers—“unconscious bias”—that mean we have to keep working at it. Also, in some ways the greater diversity and flexibility mean there are so many more choices and pathways—but that means all of us must be even clearer in knowing and expressing what we want. That was my challenge way back in 1983—and that is probably the same for today’s students. So that places a greater onus on students and aspiring diplomats to set clear goals and ambitions for themselves.
TRIN: You recently visited the Munk School to speak on the relationship between Canada and Korea. How does it feel to return to the Trinity campus as Canada’s Ambassador to Korea? Did you envision this future for yourself in any way while you were studying at the College?
TM: It was truly wonderful to return to the Trinity campus. Especially as in my day the Munk School building was then the Men’s Engineering Residence, which we didn’t visit too often. It is amazing to see what a great facility it is now for international studies. And engaging with students and faculty is always interesting—I was honoured by the welcome and the great questions. As an undergraduate, I had dreams of diplomacy for sure—but returning to give a talk to Trinity, well, that was a special moment. My 17-year-old self would have been thrilled.
TRIN: What do Canadians need to understand about the current issues and opportunities in Korea-Canada relations?
TM: All things Korea right now are high profile—K-food, K-pop, K-drama. It is great to see the increased understanding of Korea’s history and culture and society that this brings in Canada. And as a Canadian diplomat on assignment in Korea, there is a shared interest in deepening and diversifying our partnership. Look at recent Korean investments in the Canadian Electric Vehicle or LNG [liquefied natural gas] sectors—these take us to a new level. In the current, very challenging, international environment, we have a great friend and partner in Korea. Our economies and our societies are complementary, and there is a great deal of potential. This is a concrete example of the significance and relevance of our national Indo-Pacific Strategy. Korea and Canada have always been good friends—we have a long history, including through a significant Canadian contribution to the Korean War. But now we can be best friends.
TRIN: Do you have a favourite memory of your time at Trinity?
TM: I have many favourite memories—and some long friendships, now over 40 years old. Favourite memories are sitting in the halls outside my residence room, talking and trying to make sense of the world, or having coffee in the Quad. Also: Lasagna night! TCLI debates. Janice Stein’s POL 208 course. Spring blossoms alongside the Buttery. Free peanuts at Birdy’s pub. Our incredible class DJs. And a shout-out to the Norah Whitney Scholarship, which opened up possibilities for me for graduate studies in French.
TRIN: What do you love to do that is purely for you?
TM: I love hiking and reading and all things food. So Korea has been a great choice of assignment!
TRIN: What are you reading right now?
TM: I had just finished the French translation of Han Kang’s most recent novel about Jeju, “Impossibles Adieux,” when she won the Nobel. Korean literature in translation opens a vast new library—it is amazing to “get lost” in the many different books now available. We just had a Canada-Korea literature festival here, bringing together Canadian and Korean authors. There is a lot of interest here for example in Canada’s Indigenous culture, and reconciliation, and there are many interesting dialogues to build between Canadian and Korean literature. Watch too for new co-creation in the audio-visual sector, based on novels or memoirs written by Canadian-Koreans! The Canada and Korea Year of Cultural Exchange is 2024-25, so there is a lot happening in literature and in virtual reality, music, academic exchanges, gaming, and the visual arts.