Sir John Daniel, a world-renowned authority in open and distance learning, joined Commonwealth of Learning in June 2004 as President and Chief Executive Officer.

He came to COL from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) where he had been Assistant Director-General for Education and headed the global Education for All programme.

Sir John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for services to higher education in 1994. The honour recognised the leading role he has played internationally, over three decades, in the development of distance learning in universities.

Sir John has been awarded 25 honorary doctorates, fellowships and professorships from universities in 15 countries, is a past President of both the International Council for Open and Distance Education and the Canadian Association for Distance Education, and served as Vice-President of the International Baccalaureate Organisation.