Oonagh Fitzgerald

As director of CIGI’s International Law Research Program, Oonagh Fitzgerald oversees its international economic, environmental, intellectual property law and innovation research agenda. She has extensive experience as a senior executive in the federal government, providing legal services and leadership in international law.

As national security coordinator for the Department of Justice Canada from 2011- 2014, Oonagh ensured strategic leadership and integration of the department’s policy, advisory and litigation work related to national security. From 2007–2011, she served as the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces legal adviser, leading a large, full service corporate counsel team for this globally engaged, combined military and civilian institution. Before this, Oonagh served as acting chief legal counsel for the Public Law Sector of the Department of Justice and special adviser for International Law. Oonagh served as assistant secretary Legislation, House Planning/Counsel at the Privy Council Office from 2000-2003. Prior to this she held various positions in the Department of Justice: senior general counsel and director general, Human Resources Development Canada Legal Services Unit; general counsel and director, International Law and Activities Section; senior counsel for Regulatory Reform; and legal adviser, Human Rights Law Section.

Oonagh has a B.A. (honours) of fine arts from York University (1977). She obtained her LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School (1981), and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1983. She obtained an LL.M. from the University of Ottawa (1990), her S.J.D. from the University of Toronto (1994), and an M.B.A. from Queen’s University (2007).