Nick Hare's interest in international development began more than 50 years ago, when he was one of the early volunteers with Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO). After teaching in Sarawak, Malaysia for two years, Mr. Hare returned to Canada and joined the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) as a program officer.
Mr. Hare's career with CIDA included roles in Canada and abroad. He acted as first secretary of Development with the Canadian High Commission in Ghana, regional director for programs in Southeast Asia and then for programs in Central and Southern Africa, director general of Social Development, and director general of UN Programs.
In 1984, Mr. Hare joined Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), and was appointed ambassador to Zaire, Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo. Upon his return to Canada, he assumed responsibility for developing Canada’s trade with Africa before returning to CIDA, this time as director general of its Industrial Co-operation Division. His next appointment was as high commissioner to Nigeria, and ambassador to the neighboring Republic of Benin.
From 1993 to 2000, Mr. Hare served as deputy secretary general (Development Co-operation) with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, with responsibility for the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation, a $50 million development assistance fund.
Mr. Hare has served on numerous boards dedicated to international development and financial oversight. In addition to his CESO board role, he is a member of the board of the North-South Institute, and until recently, the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre and the Canadian Hunger Foundation.