Born in Montreal and raised in both Quebec and Ontario, Mr. Barr's wide ranging career has included community organizing, labour negotiations and public policy advocacy. Between 2000 And 2012 Gerry Barr was President-CEO of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation . In 2012 he became CEO and National Director of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) and, in 2014, the Senior Public Policy Advisor to the DGC. He is a former staff representative of the United Steelworkers and has worked for the New Democratic Party in Ontario as well as Newfoundland and Labrador. He was a founding Co-Chair of the Make Poverty History Campaign (Canada) and the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group and played a significant role in mobilizing support for Canadian legislation which requires Canadian aid spending to be guided by poverty reduction and respect for human rights. He played a key role in the development , and was the first Executive Director, of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. Gerry Barr is a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2008 he received the World Peace Award of the World Federalist Movement in Canada for his exemplary contributions to international development cooperation and world peace. He was awarded the Pearson Peace Medal in 1996 for his personal contribution to aid and development, mediation in conflict and peaceful change through international development cooperation. Now retired, he lives in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.