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Governor General David Johnston is The Queen’s representative in Canada and exercises the duties of Head of State. Since being sworn in as Canada’s 28th Governor General in October 2010, he has traveled on behalf of Canada to Europe, India, China, Brazil, and the United States as a leading speaker on education, innovation and trade. David Johnston began his professional career as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University in 1966, joining the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law in 1968. He became dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario in 1974. In 1979, he was named principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University, and in July 1994, he returned to teaching as a full-time professor in the McGill Faculty of Law. In June 1999, he became the fifth president of the University of Waterloo, Canada’s most innovative university recognized for advanced research and teaching in science, engineering and mathematics. His academic specializations include securities regulation, information technology and corporate law. Mr. Johnston holds an LL.B. from Queen’s University (1966); an LL.B. from the University of Cambridge (1965); and an AB from Harvard University (1963). While at Harvard, he was twice selected for the All-American hockey team and was named to Harvard’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He was the first non-American to chair Harvard’s Board of Overseers. He is the author or co-author of 24 books including new editions, holds honorary doctorates from over 20 universities and is a Companion of the Order of Canada. Non-partisan and apolitical, the Governor General presides over the swearing-in of the Prime Minister of Canada, the Chief Justice of Canada and cabinet ministers; summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament; delivers the Speech from the Throne; grants Royal Assent to Acts of Parliament. He also receives Royal visitors and Heads of Government during their official visits to Canada, and represents Canada abroad.