Grant Kippen has spent the past 35 years involved in electoral politics and democracy strengthening activities internationally as well as in Canada. In August 2021 he completed three and one-half years as Chief Electoral Advisor for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) based in Kabul. Prior to this position he was working in Mogadishu, Somalia as Senior Electoral Management Advisor to the National Independent Electoral Commission, and from November 2015 to June 2016 as Senior Elections Advisor to the British Embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia. From December 2011 to June 2015 he was the Chief of Party for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) based in Sana’a, Yemen.

Internationally, Grant has worked in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan (in support of the 2005 Iraq elections), Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Libya, Moldova, Nepal, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Timor Leste, Ukraine and Yemen. During this time he has been employed by the United Nations, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Creative Associates International, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Elections Canada and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs. He was the Chairman of the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) in Afghanistan for the 2009 Presidential and Provincial Council elections and the 2005 Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Council elections, as well as Country Director for NDI in Afghanistan from 2003-2004.

In Canada, Mr. Kippen worked as an Officer within the Prime Minister’s Office (Rt. Hon. P.E. Trudeau), as an Advisor to a federal Cabinet Minister, a Special Assistant to a Member of Parliament, as well as Director of Organization for the Liberal Party of Canada (Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien). He has written a number of published articles on such issues as e-democracy, electoral dispute resolution, electoral financing within post-conflict countries, the impact of information technology on electoral campaigns as well as on elections and democracy in Afghanistan.

Mr. Kippen has a B.A. from The University of Western Ontario and an M.B.A. from the University of Ottawa.