Stephen Owen and Diane Kurner volunteered in 1975 in Africa- Podcast #60

Cuso International

Aug 31 2009

Stephen Owen has had a distinguished career and served with his wife with CUSO. Hear his story.

A former Member of Parliament of Canada for Vancouver Quadra, Stephen Owen was appointed Vice President, External, Legal and Community Relations of The University of British Columbia on August 15, 2007.

Stephen Owen was first elected to Parliament in November 2000, and re-elected in June 2004 and January 2006. In government, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, Secretary of State for Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Receiver General for Canada, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of Sport.

Prior to his election to Parliament, Stephen Owen was the David Lam Professor of Law and Public Policy and Director of the Institute for Dispute Resolution at the University of Victoria; Commissioner and Vice President of the Law Commission of Canada; Deputy Attorney General, Commissioner of Resources and Environment, Ombudsman and Executive Director for Legal Services Society of British Columbia; and a practicing lawyer.

Stephen Owen has advised numerous governments and international institutions in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe on issues of human rights, governance, conflict resolution and environmental sustainability. He has investigated security force killings in apartheid South Africa, Northern Ireland/Gibraltar, Somalia, Kosovo and Cambodia.

As Vice President, External, Legal and Community Relations at UBC, Stephen Owen's responsibilities include government and international relations, University legal counsel, public affairs and communications, University community engagement, the Robson Square Campus, the Learning Exchange and 2010 Olympics.

Stephen Owen received a J.D. from UBC, a LL.M. from UCL, University of London, and a M.B.A. from the University of Geneva.

www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/externalaffairs//owen/

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