# John Kirton

John James Kirton (born 1948) is a professor of political science and the director and co-founder of the G7 Research Group, co-director (with Alan Alexandroff and Donald Brean) and founder of the G20 Research Group, founder and co-director (with James Orbinski) of the Global Health Diplomacy Program, and founder and co-founder (with Marina Larionova of the National Research University - Higher School of Economics) of the BRICS Research Group, all housed at the Munk School of Global Affairs at University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto. Since 2016, he has served as interim director of the International Relations Program at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. He received his B.A. in Political Science in 1971 from the University of Toronto, his M.A. in International Affairs in 1973 from Carleton University, and his Ph.D. in International Studies in 1977 from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.