Christopher Quinlivan

Senior Commercial Officer
U.S. Embassy
Ottawa, Canada

Chris Quinlivan is a Senior Foreign Service officer with more than twenty years with the Department of Commerce. He began his current four-year assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada in September, 2015. As the Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, he is responsible for the Department of Commerce’s commercial programs throughout Canada. Prior postings include two tours in Beijing, China; Vienna, Austria; Salt Lake City, Utah; Brussels, Belgium; and Athens, Greece.

While at the Commerce Department’s headquarters in Washington, DC, Mr. Quinlivan managed initiatives to develop U.S. export opportunities in Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Mr. Quinlivan also worked for three years on a Presidential initiative to support the Northern Ireland peace process. Mr. Quinlivan is the recipient of numerous professional honors, including the Commerce Department’s prestigious Gold Medal and Bronze Medal awards, the Chuck Meissner award, and special recognition by the Department of State for his roles in support of four Presidential visits to Greece and China. Mr. Quinlivan has seven years of private sector experience as an account manager and logistics agent. He holds a Master’s in international affairs and a Bachelor’s in business administration from California State University and an international business certificate from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.