The Bill Graham Centre in collaboration with the NATO Association of Canada is providing an insightful discussion on Afghanistan.
DATE: January 18, 2023
TIME: 4:00 - 6:00 PM, Toronto time
DELIVERY METHOD: In person and Online
DURATION: 2 hours
Ben Rowswell
Ben Rowswell attended Georgetown University where he acquired his Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, followed by completing a Master of Philosophy in International Relations at the University of Oxford. Ben Rowswell began his service in 1993 when he joined the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as a Foreign Service Officer specializing in conflict prevention. From there, he served as Canada’s sole representative in Iraq from 2003 to 2005, becoming the Founding Manager for the Democracy Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
His stint in Afghanistan began in 2008 where he was the Deputy Head of Mission at the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan. A year later, he became NATO’s Canadian Representative in Kandahar where he oversaw the PRT's governance, development and rule of law programming to bolster the presence of the Government of Afghanistan at the provincial and district levels in Kandahar. Ben Rowswell then became Canada’s Ambassador to Venezuela from 2014 to 2017. Today, he is the Director of the Global Democracy Program at the Canadian International Council where he is emphasizing democratic solidarity through mutual learning.
Lieutenant-General Ret. Steve Bowes
Lt. General (Retired) Steve Bowes attended Acadia University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and went on to complete his Master of Arts in International Relations and National Security at Queens University. Steve Bowes then joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1985. In 2005, he was appointed Commander of the first Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar until 2006. He then went on to serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff Plans for the ISAF Joint Command in Kabul from 2009 to 2010.
Steve Bowes was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 2015, alongside being appointed Commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command where he led missions in Latvia and Ukraine, and deployments in the Middle East. In October 2020, following years of hard work, dedication and service, Steve Bowes retired from the Canadian Armed Forces. Today, he is an Ambassador for the CAF Charity Support our Troops and Soldier On, a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and a senior mentor at the Canadian Forces College National Security Programme.