Alex Himelfarb is former Clerk of the Privy Council. He joined the federal public service in 1981 after a decade teaching at the University of New Brunswick.

Alex held a number of senior positions in various departments including Executive Director of the Parole Board, Assistant Secretary Social at the Privy Council Office, Associate Secretary at Treasury Board and Deputy Minister, Canadian Heritage.

He was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council in 2002 and served three Canadian Prime Ministers until his appointment as Ambassador to Italy. After his retirement from public service in 2009, he led the School of Public and International Affairs at York University’s Glendon College until 2014.

Alex has served on and chaired numerous NGO boards and advisory committees, including the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Coalition to End Homelessness, the Atkinson Foundation, the Narwhal and WWF Canada.

He has published extensively on Canadian society and public policy and is a fellow of the Broadbent Institute and Parkland Institute.

Alex received his PhD in sociology from the University of Toronto.