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Strategic Council

What is the Strategic Council?

The Strategic Council is an advisory body to the Forum of Federations where each Partner Government provides its perspective through its representatives. The Council is chaired by the representative from the Partner Government which last hosted an International Conference on Federalism.

What does the Strategic Council do?

The Strategic Council meets at least once a year to provide advice to the Forum on:  

• the strategic plan,
• the program of work, and
• its sources of revenue
• new appointments to the Board, and
• the appointment of the Chair of the Board

The Council may also exchange ideas electronically as required. As an advisory body, the Council has no formal decision-making power. The Council seeks consensus from all representatives in its recommendations.

Governments who have indicated their intent to join the Forum are invited to participate in the Strategic Council as observers.

Strategic Council as of March 2009

Australia:

Ken Smith
Director-General
Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Melbourne

Brazil:

Alexandre Padilha
Secretary for Federative Affairs
Institutional Affairs Secretariat
Brazilian Presidency
Brasilia

Canada:

Alfred MacLeod
Assistant Deputy Minister
Intergovernmental Policy
Privy Council Office
Ottawa

Denis Stevens
Director General
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Ottawa

Ethiopia:

Degefe Bula
Speaker of the House of Federation
Addis Abbaba

Germany:

Stefan Sobotta
Bundesministerium des Innern
(Ministry of the Interior)
Berlin

India:

Mukul Joshi (Chair of the Strategic Council)
Inter-State Council Secretariat
Ministry of Home Affairs
New Delhi

Mexico:

Rosario Castro Lozano
Coordinator
National Federalism Institute (INAFED)
Mexico City

Nigeria:

Vacant

Switzerland:
Kuno Schläfli
Policy Advisor, Decentralization
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation 
Bern
Roland Mayer
Acting Secretary
Konferenz der Kantonsregierungen (KdK)
(Conference of Cantonal Governments)
Bern