John Baird, ex-foreign affairs minister, to advise Barrick Gold

Former foreign affairs minister John Baird has a new job as an adviser to global mining giant Barrick Gold, thecorporation has confirmed.

In its annual report, the company listed Baird and former U.S. lawmaker Newt Gingrich as members of its international advisory board.

Barrick Gold says the group is made up of 10 external advisers who meet about once a year to provide advice to the board of directors and management on geopolitical and strategic matters.

The corporation alsosays individual members of the board can weigh in throughout the year, as needed.

Barrick Gold, which has its international headquarters in Toronto, has interests in nearly 15 countries around the world, including major corporations in the U.S.

Baird left post in February

In a surprise move in February, Baird announced he was leaving Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet.

The 45-year-old subsequently resigned as the MP for Ottawa-West Nepean on March 16.

As foreign affairs minister, Baird was responsible for handling challenging diplomatic issues such as the crisis in Ukraine, Canada's mission against ISIS and the case of jailed Canadian-Egyptian journalistMohamed Fahmy.

Baird, who was replaced as minister by Rob Nicholson,has spent much of his adult life in the political arena.

He was first elected as an MP in 2006 after spending a decade at the Ontario provincial legislature where he served in the cabinet of former Ontario premier Mike Harris.