Paul Thoppil was appointed the assistant deputy minister (Asia Pacific) at Global Affairs Canada (GAC) on July 8, 2019. In addition, he became the department’s champion of diversity and inclusion in November 2020.

Before his current roles, from 2014 to 2019, Paul was the senior assistant deputy minister and the chief finances, results and delivery officer at Indigenous Services Canada.

From 2009 to 2014, Paul was the commercial minister at the Embassy of Canada to Japan at GAC. While in Tokyo, Paul advanced free-trade negotiations with Japan on behalf of Canada.

Between joining GAC in 2004, and until 2009, Paul served several successive director general positions in which his areas of responsibility included innovation and partnerships, corporate finance, corporate planning (international trade) and global business opportunities.

Paul also has previous experience bridging the gap between the private and public sectors, having served as chief financial officer and vice president of risk and financial services at the Canadian Commercial Corporation. Before then, he worked in the public service at the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Department of Finance.

Paul received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa and is a chartered professional accountant and a member of the Chartered Accountants Institute of Ontario. He is married to Naina Thoppil, and they have 2 sons together.