M.-J. Wason, Consular Program Manager in Ethiopia

M.-J. Wason joined Global Affairs Canada in 2001 and is now the Consular Program Manager in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her work has taken her around the world, to Thailand, Ghana, Indonesia and Trinidad and Tobago, and exposed her to a broad range of consular cases. In many high-profile cases, she has helped Canadians who have been detained or who have been in serious accidents.

“In some cases, the entire embassy gets involved and it is truly amazing when we can all work together towards one goal. Officers whose jobs are not related to consular work will drop what they are doing and help us find a solution. Bringing together different perspectives from the embassy’s Canadian and local staff has not only helped us to resolve complicated cases but has also been an enriching experience for all of us.”

Consular officers don’t only help people with serious problems that receive public attention. Canadians travelling or living abroad often get tripped up by small things and may need some help.

“When interacting with clients, I try to put myself in their shoes. I understand how easy it can be for people to be disoriented by the situation, especially when they are in another country. I have had cases where people came to the embassy, distraught that they had lost their travel documents or had experienced other smaller problems, only to be reassured by our consular officers and finally be able to find the solution themselves.”