EVENT DATE: November 8, 2018
TOPIC: Canada, Oil and World Politics

John Foster, an energy economist with more than 40 years of experience in policy and economic issues relating to infrastructure and energy, has held positions with the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Petro-Canada and BP Group.  He has witnessed first-hand the impact of petroleum geopolitics in more than 30 countries around the world.

In the past decade, John has given talks on petroleum rivalries and conflicts – at universities, foreign affairs groups, trade unions and associations across Canada. His research on Afghanistan and pipeline politics, A Pipeline Through a Troubled Land, was published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (over 200,000 downloads), and became banner headlines in the Globe and Mail (19 June 2008). He has authored articles in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Hill Times, and Journal of Energy Security (Washington, DC). He has been interviewed on radio and TV, most recent on CBC’s Power and Politics. He has a new book, Oil and World Politics (Lorimer, Sep 2018). Club member Millie Morton is his close collaborator and wife.

John has a BA and MA in economics and law, Cambridge University. Born in London, England, he became a Canadian citizen in 1982. Before coming to Canada, he served in the Royal Navy, including the 1956 Suez landings (Lieutenant RNR). His interests include the Canadian Club of Kingston, Kingston Choral Society, cryptic crosswords, and walking at Lemoine Point.