International Journal of Auditing – July 2008
Canada
New Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
In May 2008, Scott Vaughan was appointed to the post of Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development in the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG). The Commissioner is responsible for monitoring sustainable development strategies, overseeing the environmental petitions process on behalf of the Auditor General, and auditing the Canadian government’s management of environmental and sustainable development activities.
Mr. Vaughan has worked in the field of environmental economics for more than 20 years. He came to the OAG from the Organization of American States, where he had served as Director of the Department of Sustainable Development since 2003. Previously, he was a visiting scholar with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C; head of the Environment, Economy, and Trade program at the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Montréal; and a counselor on environmental issues at the World Trade Organization. He also held a variety of positions with the United Nations Environment Program.
Mr. Vaughan holds a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is also a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Dalhousie University, and Mount Allison University. Mr. Vaughan replaced Ron Thompson, who retired from the OAG after 31 years of service. In addition to serving as Interim Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development from January 2007 to May 2008, Mr. Thompson had been an Assistant Auditor General since 1985. In 1999, he assumed responsibility for international relations and guided the OAG’s involvement with INTOSAI. Among other activities, he made a significant contribution to the Accounting Standards Committee and helped develop INTOSAI’s strategic plan.
Mr. Thompson hosted foreign delegations on behalf of the OAG and was responsible for institutional SAI capacity-building projects that were funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. He was also a strong supporter of the OAG’s annual fellowship program for auditors from SAIs in developing nations.
For additional information, please contact the OAG:
E-mail: communications@oag-bvg-gc.ca
Web site: www.oag-bvg.gc.ca