Appointee Biographies

SOPHIA ARVANITIS

Appointed in 2021, Sophia Arvanitis serves as Ontario’s Agent‑General in London, acting as the Government of Ontario’s primary representative in the United Kingdom. Based at Ontario’s Trade and Investment Office at Canada House, she leads Ontario’s UK engagement, working to advance trade, investment, and strategic partnerships across priority sectors including advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, defence, and critical minerals. She reports to Honourable Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Sophia works closely with UK government departments, devolved administrations, industry leaders, investors, and academic institutions to strengthen bilateral economic ties and position Ontario as a premier destination for investment and innovation. She regularly supports ministerial missions, high‑level delegations, and commercial initiatives, advancing Ontario’s trade and investment priorities in the United Kingdom, enabling market access for Ontario firms and promoting investment into Ontario. Sophia serves as a Board Director of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce and is Co-Chair of the Association of Economic Representatives in London, working collaboratively with international counterparts to advance shared trade and investment objectives. In recognition of her expertise, she is regularly invited to speak at leading forums, including the House of Lords and most recently the University of Oxford, on issues related to trade, investment, and economic policy. She is widely engaged across diplomatic, policy, and business networks in the UK. Previously, Sophia held senior leadership roles across municipal, provincial, and federal governments, giving her a unique whole-of-government perspective. She served on special assignments as Director of COVID-19 Economic Response for the City of Toronto, coordinating cross-government and stakeholder efforts to support businesses and economic recovery during the pandemic. She also served as Executive Director of Budget and Finance to former Mayor John Tory, leading complex fiscal planning and advising on economic and financial policy. At the federal level, Sophia was Economic Advisor to federal Ministers of Industry and Finance, including the late Honourable Jim Flaherty, where she played a senior role in Canada’s economic recovery following the global financial crisis. She led significant reforms to the foreign investment review process under the Investment Canada Act, including policy development related to state‑owned enterprises, and oversaw high‑profile foreign investment reviews. In addition to her public sector experience, Sophia brings private sector perspective as Co-Principal of a retail business, strengthening her understanding of entrepreneurship, regulatory environments, and commercial decision-making. Sophia holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She is fluent in English, French, and Greek, with working knowledge of Italian and Spanish.