Bob Rae has been deeply engaged in a full range of public policy issues at the international, national, and provincial levels of government throughout a career that stretches for more than half a century. Most recently he has served as one of 3 co-facilitators to a working group making recommendations on the renewal and transformation of the UNAIDS Joint Program, which will be presenting its report in October, 2026.

He now serves as The Visitor of Massey College, a Distinguished Fellow of the Munk School at the University of Toronto, a Matthews Fellow in Public Policy at Queen’s University and Adjunct Professor at Victoria University in the University of Toronto. He also consults and speaks widely on issues of global affairs and public policy. He is the Chairman Emeritus of the Royal Conservatory of Music, and is a Senior Fellow of the Forum of Federations, an organization he co-founded in the 1990’s. He served as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York from 2020-2025, including a term as President of the Economic and Social Council.

Mr. Rae, a graduate of the University of Toronto in History and Law, and of Oxford University in Politics, was Premier of Ontario from 1990-1995, and interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2011-2013. He was elected to federal and provincial parliaments 11 times between 1978 and 2013. As a lawyer he advised the Free Trade Lumber Council on trade issues between Canada and the United States, and led the restructuring of the Canadian Red Cross, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, as well as serving as chair of the Royal Conservatory of Music. He served as Chief Negotiator to the 9 First Nations of the Mattawa Tribal Council. He also wrote “Lessons to be Learned” on the Air India bombing, and “Ontario a Leader in Learning” – a study of the Ontario higher education system, as well as “Tell Them We’re Human”, a study of the Rohingya refugee crisis.

He is the author of ten books and reports. His latest book, “Reclaiming Canadian Sovereignty in a Ruptured World”, which he introduced and edited, was published in September 2026 by Lorimer. Bob Rae is a Privy Councillor, a King’s Counsel, a Companion of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Order of Ontario. He is married to Arlene Perly Rae, a writer and public advocate on issues affecting women and children. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.