John Hannaford is a Canadian civil servant and is currently serving as the 25th clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet since June 24, 2023, the most senior civil servant in the Government of Canada.

Hannaford completed a Bachelor of Arts, History degree at Queen's University. Then, he completed a Master of Science, International Relations degree at the London School of Economics. Lastly, he completed a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Toronto.^[1]

His previous roles include:^[1]

• June 24, 2023: Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
• 2022–2023: Deputy Minister of Natural Resources
• 2019–2022: Deputy Minister of International Trade
• 2015–2019: Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, Privy Council Office
• 2012–2015: Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Foreign and Defence Policy), Privy Council Office
• 2009–2012: Ambassador of Canada to Norway
• 2007–2009: Director General and Deputy Legal Advisor, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• 2005–2007: Director, United Nations, Human Rights and Economic Law Division, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• 2003–2005: Deputy Director, Trade Law Bureau, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• 2001–2003: Deputy Director, Investment Trade Policy Division, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Hannaford was also involved at a high level in the renegotiation of NAFTA, and he was at one time a foreign and defense policy adviser to Justin Trudeau.^[2]

He was appointed as clerk following the retirement of Janice Charette on June 24, 2023.^[3]