An alumnus of McGill (BA ’85 Political Science) and Toronto (MA ’86 International Relations), he joined the Department of External Affairs in 1987, and began his remarkable career in the embassies of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. These were followed in Ottawa by stints in the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat, Global Affairs Canada, Trade Controls Policy Division, Trade Remedies Division, Bilateral and Regional Trade Policy Bureau and Chief Trade Negotiator (Bilateral and Regional), in the Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch.
From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Burney served as Assistant Deputy Minister of the International Business Development, Investment & Innovation Branch and from 2011–2015, as Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade Policy and Negotiations. In July 2015, Mr. Burney was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet in the Economic and Regional Development Policy Secretariat in the Privy Council office.
In February 2015, Mr. Burney was the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) of the Public Service of Canada. The OAA is distinct from other awards as it is the Prime Minister’s Award and accords the highest expression of recognition for senior leaders in the Public Service of Canada.