The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced the appointment of Paul Genest as Chair of the National Gallery of Canada Board of Trustees today. This appointment is the result of a rigorous, open, transparent and merit-based selection process conducted by the Governor in Council.
Throughout his career, Genest has held senior positions in the government, academic, business and non-profit sectors. Since 2016, he has been Senior Vice-President of Power Corporation of Canada.
Genest has held a number of leadership roles in the Ontario government as a deputy minister, overseeing major portfolios including Intergovernmental Affairs and Francophone Affairs. He was also the deputy minister responsible for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games in Toronto.
In his academic career, Genest was Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Union College in Schenectady, New York and Adjunct Professor at York University's Glendon College. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Ontario Universities.
An active volunteer, Genest is a member of the Business/Arts Board of Directors and, until recently, was Vice Chair of the National Gallery of Canada Foundation. In addition, he chairs the Board of Directors of the Nature Conservancy of Canada - Ontario Region and actively contributes to the boards of the Rideau Hall Foundation and the Coalition for a Better Future.
Genest was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa in June 2022.
The National Gallery of Canada is a Crown corporation in the Canadian Heritage Portfolio.
