YDC Appoints New CEO & COO
Canada (February 20, 2026) — Young Diplomats of Canada (YDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ahdithya Visweswaran as Chief Executive Officer and Emma Talbot as Chief Operating Officer. They succeed Christina Caouette and Anne-Sophie St-Gelais, who served the organization with dedication and distinction, strengthening YDC’s partnerships and national presence.
Ahdithya brings a dynamic career in public policy spanning the House of Commons, the federal public service, and the nonprofit sector. A graduate of the University of Alberta’s Faculté Saint-Jean and an alumnus of the Parliamentary Internship Programme, he has held roles at the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, deepening his expertise in how public policy can advance meaningful social change.
Since joining YDC in 2021, Ahdithya has spearheaded key initiatives as Recruitment Coordinator, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, and Governance Advisor. His leadership has strengthened organizational strategy, volunteer engagement, and inclusive governance practices. He was named to Alberta’s “30 Under 30” (2022) and received the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025) in recognition of his community leadership.
“As CEO, Ahdi is committed to continuing to build YDC into a professional, financially empowered, and strategically governed organization that supports our delegates and executives while positioning YDC as a trusted partner in shaping youth leadership on the global stage,” said Enya Bouchard, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors. “Equally important, the Board was impressed by Ahdi’s emphasis on nurturing a positive, inclusive, and empowering internal culture — one that enables every team member to thrive and contribute meaningfully. This will be a key priority in the months ahead.”
Joining him as Chief Operating Officer, Emma Talbot is a public diplomacy and international affairs professional specializing in stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, and program operations. She holds a Master’s in European Studies from KU Leuven (Belgium) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from McGill University. Emma currently serves as a consultant on a European Commission–funded initiative in Canada, collaborating with civil society, academic, governmental, and diplomatic partners to advance transatlantic dialogue and deliver tangible policy and outreach outcomes.
At Young Diplomats of Canada, she has served as Programs Lead, ensuring a meaningful, positive, and formative experience for YDC delegates participating in international fora. In this role, she strengthened program design and delivery, enhanced pre-departure training and mentorship structures, and helped elevate the overall quality, impact, and consistency of YDC’s programming nationwide.
“It is an honour to serve as COO of Young Diplomats of Canada at such a pivotal moment for youth engagement in global affairs,” said Talbot. “I look forward to strengthening YDC’s operational excellence, supporting our volunteers across the country, and ensuring our programs continue to create meaningful pathways for young Canadians to contribute to international policy conversations.”
YDC’s executives, including the CEO and COO, serve on a fully volunteer basis — contributing their time and expertise alongside their professional careers to advance youth participation in international decision-making spaces.
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About YDC:
Young Diplomats of Canada is a national, non-partisan, nonprofit organization composed entirely of young volunteers aged 18 to 30. Since 2007, YDC has been a trusted partner of Canadian youth, facilitating access to international decision-making spaces with the goal of enabling meaningful influence on public policy, both nationally and globally.