Nadir Patel

Senior Strategic Advisor at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

As Senior Strategic Advisor in the Business Law Group at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Nadir offers expert guidance on regulatory affairs, global government relations, ESG matters, and international business strategy. In addition to this role, he is Managing Director at Fairfax Consulting Services, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings, and Strategic Advisor to the President of Huron University. Nadir also serves on the boards of Canadian Tire Corporation, Jumpstart Charities, and the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Over the years, he has contributed to numerous private, Crown corporation, and nonprofit boards and is a frequent speaker and presenter on global affairs and public policy.

Nadir has held several senior leadership roles in the Canadian public service throughout a distinguished career. Most notably, he served as Canada’s High Commissioner to the Republic of India, leading Canada’s largest diplomatic mission abroad with eight offices across the country. In this capacity, he played a critical role in strengthening one of Canada’s fastest-growing bilateral commercial relationships—advising CEOs and senior government officials on complex market access, investment strategies, and bilateral trade.

Before his posting to India, Nadir was Senior Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer at Global Affairs Canada, overseeing strategic planning, finance, HR, IT, risk management, procurement, labour relations, and real estate portfolios. From 2009 to 2011, he served as Canada’s Consul General in Shanghai, where he led trade and investment efforts in Eastern China and coordinated Canada’s engagement with World Expo 2010.

Earlier in his career, Nadir was Chief of Staff to the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, contributing to the development of Canada’s first National Security Policy. He also served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, later becoming Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator—successfully brokering 43 international air agreements, including a landmark open-skies pact with the European Union.

Nadir began his professional journey as a tax auditor in the Kitchener-Waterloo office of Revenue Canada. He later held progressively senior roles within the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency in Montreal and Ottawa, including Director of Ministerial Services, Senior Departmental Assistant to the Minister of National Revenue, and Corporate Secretary.