No condition is permanent and there comes a time in every Foreign Service Officer’s life where they move on – whether it’s to retirement, promotion or greener pastures. How can we capture the knowledge, experience and wisdom they have acquired? Enter the Exit Interview.
A Foreign Service Officer since 2002, Robin Wettlaufer moved up to the Executive cadre, where most recently she was the Director responsible for the Centre for Information Integrity and the Rapid Response Mechanism. I had the pleasure of serving on her team at the Representative Office of Canada to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah where we navigated the challenges of both COVID-19 and conflict, coordinated ministerial visits, and connected with tech startups in Gaza. She was recently awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada for her role in the evacuation of White Helmets civil defence volunteers and their families from Syria. You can – and should – follow her on X: @alkanadiyya
Where are you from and where did you start?
I’m originally from Regina, Saskatchewan. I was first hired as an intern into the Japan Division, having studied Japanese in university. That was the first and last time I’ve worked on a stable country and a strong, like-minded bilateral relationship.
Where have you been?
I have served twice in Ramallah (once as Head of Mission, once as a junior political officer), nearly six years as Canada’s Special Rep for Syria (based out of Istanbul), and a posting in Islamabad. While not technically a field assignment, I also served on the Sudan Task Force (first as an advisor to the Darfur Peace Process, then as a Deputy Director) – an assignment which had me on the road as much as I was in Ottawa.
Did you have the tools to succeed?
Our department often thinks of tools as technology. That’s part of the equation, but in my experience, one of the most powerful tools we can leverage as diplomats is language skills. I have found that speaking Arabic has opened doors, helped me to better understand the societies in which I have been posted, and better connect with interlocutors. In that regard, I don’t fully feel I have the tools to succeed. Arabic generally requires two years of full-time study to reach professional fluency. While I was lucky to get 10 months of training early in my career, I have had to push for a couple extra months here and there over the years, and I have spent many evenings and weekends studying to get where I am. Another solid round of language training would equip me with the language tools to be a better, more connected, and more effective diplomat.
Were you fully embraced for who you are?
I think so. The Foreign Service certainly isn’t one-size fits all. We have our share of eccentrics. I don’t know whether Foreign Service Officers are recruited for that, or whether our unique experiences overseas have shaped our characters – probably a bit of both. It’s definitely not a dull crowd.
Throughout, I have found it to be a very supportive community. Colleagues have faced an array of hardships and have experienced both professional highs and lows in great measure. Few others in Ottawa understand this somewhat tumultuous but rich life in the same way. I have always felt the Foreign Service community celebrated my accomplishments and supported me through my lower moments.
Who helped you be successful and how?
I’ve had a handful of outstanding managers and mentors over the years, as well as some outstanding like-minded diplomats I’ve gotten to work with. I’ve also worked with some great teams – the incredible staff in Ramallah (including outstanding Palestinian local staff), the old Sudan Task Force crew, and the G8 team during our 2002 Presidency were a few standouts. My team working on information integrity and the Rapid Response Mechanism was also an astonishingly impressive crew. And, as someone who married a fellow Foreign Service Officer, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my husband – Ulric Shannon – who never fails to make me laugh, no matter how dark the world may seem some days.
What should we stop, start, and keep doing?
STOP Being quite so risk averse. Especially in a world as volatile as it is today. There are things worth doing that may not be slam-dunks and may incur a cost – that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try.
START Valuing expertise.
KEEP DOING Recruiting regularly. I was relieved to see this commitment from senior management, after years without steady recruitment.
Would you do it again?
In a heartbeat.
What would you tell a new Foreign Service Officer before they go on their first posting?
This vocation is unpredictable, frustrating, and rewarding in equal measure. Keep an open mind. Adapt as the sands shift beneath you. Avoid resting too long in the comfort zone of MFA corridors, and like-minded diplomatic circles. These are part of it, but you will learn more and build more influence if you cast a wider net. Diplomacy isn’t just talking to people you agree with. Diplomacy is at its most crucial in engaging those you don’t.
What’s next for you?
In this business, we can be certain of only one thing: that there will be new challenges and new adventures to come. Watch this space!
