From Aid to Action.
ACIC Symposium 2025
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION
.png)
Andrew Smith
Director General
Pan-African Affairs at Global Affairs Canada
About Drew
Andrew (Drew) Smith is the Director General, Pan-African Affairs at Global Affairs Canada.
Drew has over 30 years of experience in the field of international development and international relations, this includes policy development, programming and field operations. Drew co-led the design and launch of Canada’s $1.6 billion International Assistance Innovation Program. He has worked as Canada’s Head of Cooperation in Vietnam and has managed development assistance programs throughout the Asia Pacific region.
​
Prior to becoming the Director General for Pan-African Affairs, Drew was the Director General for International Assistance Policy from 2019 to 2024, where he led Canada’s engagement on development issues at the G7, G20 and the OECD, and oversaw Canada’s contribution to Sustainable Development Goals finance discussions at the UN.
Drew has served as Canada’s G7 Senior Development Official and is a member of the UN Secretary-General's Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.
​
Drew holds a PhD in political science and international relations from the Australian National University.