Mrs. McDougall is widely recognized for her expertise in international relations and is frequently invited by the media to comment on current events. Her extensive knowledge and interest in international policy have led her to sit as a Canadian representative to the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington and The International Crisis Group in Brussels. Mrs. McDougall remains a member of the IAD's Audit Committee. She recently completed a term as the Canadian representative on the International Advisory Board for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. She has also recently completed a five-year term as President of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs.
Mrs. McDougall was a Member of Parliament for nine years and held several cabinet posts, including: Finance (Minister of State), Privatization, Employment and Immigration, and finally External Affairs. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto, a Chartered Financial Analyst and has an honorary doctorate from St. Lawrence University. She was a Senior Resident of Massey College, University of Toronto.
She chaired the Canadian Retailers Advancing Responsible Trade. She was formerly chairman of AT&T Canada Long Distance Services, chairman of the Audit Committee and the Investment Committee of the Independent Order of Foresters, and served on the boards of National Trust, Systemhouse Inc., Avenor Inc., Sun Media, Corel Corporation and Stelco Inc. prior to their takeovers or mergers. She served a term as a public governor of The Toronto Stock Exchange.
Prior to entering politics, Mrs. McDougall worked in various sectors within the financial community, largely as a financial analyst, in Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto. She was also a columnist and television commentator.
Mrs. McDougall is Chairman of the International Development Research Centre, a unique organization that funds research into development issues in many countries. She also chairs the Global Panel North America, and is a member of Global Panel Foundation's advisory board based in Prague. She is a director of the Institute for Research on Public Policy in Montreal.
Mrs. McDougall continues to serve as a director of Unique Solutions Design Ltd. and is an honorary director of the Bank of Nova Scotia. She frequently participates in educational seminars on corporate governance.