Born in Toronto, Mr. Alexander is a graduate of McGill University (BA) in Montreal and Oxford University (MA) in England. Prior to being appointed as Canada's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mr. Alexander served as Minister Counsellor (2002-03) and Second Secretary (1993-1996) at the Canadian Embassy in Moscow. At Foreign Affairs headquarters in Ottawa, he was Deputy Director responsible for bilateral relations with Russia (1997-2000) and Desk Officer covering countries in Central and Eastern Europe (1992-93). At headquarters, he also served as Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1996-97) and Foreign Policy Communications Strategist (1991).