National Board of Directors

Janice Wattis’s love of nature led her to study earth sciences and to work as a park interpreter for the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba. She studied law in Victoria, BC, practising for many years in Vancouver, BC, and Oakville, Ontario. Most recently, Janice served as vice-president, legal with an international engineering firm, providing professional services in the natural resource industry sectors. She has wide experience in risk identification and management, compliance matters and professional management.

Janice has been a long-time supporter of NCC and was thrilled to join the BC Regional Board in 2015. She has also served on the Chimo Community Services Board (Richmond, BC) and the PTA of St. Gabriel’s School (Bridgetown, Barbados). She has participated in Vancouver’s Giving Circle and has raised funds for other charitable organizations, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

In her spare time, Janice hikes, swims, kayaks, snowshoes and travels.

Rob Prosper spent his 38-year career at Parks Canada, advancing ecosystem conservation, establishing new National Parks and Marine Conservation Areas and normalizing a culture of Indigenous reconciliation in the Agency.

As vice-president responsible for protected areas establishment, Rob was responsible for establishing and/or bringing under legislative protection Sable Island, Ukkusiksalik, Qausuittuq, Lake Superior, Naats’ihch’oh, Tallurutiup Imanga, Thaidene Nene and Akami-Uapishk-KakKasuak National Parks and Marine Conservation Areas.

As the federal lead for the Pathway to Canada Target 1, Rob has been instrumental in changing the way future conservation is undertaken in Canada and was the driving force behind the Indigenous Conserved Areas element of Canada’s Nature Legacy.

On the international stage, Rob was the Agency lead for the Convention on Biodiversity, the World Conservation Congress, the International Marine Protected Areas Congress and twice represented Canada at the World Protected Areas Leadership Forum.

Rob is the recipient of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, a two-time recipient of the Public Service Award of Excellence, was awarded the Canadian Parks Council Award of Excellence and is a two-time fellow of the Salzburg Global Forum.

Rob is a member of the Acadia First Nation and currently sits on the Innu Cooperative Management Board for Mealy Mountains National Park.

Mike Pedersen serves on several boards of directors after a long career in financial services.

Until 2023, he was chair of the board, Business Development Bank of Canada.  Prior to that, Mike was president and CEO, TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, a top-10 bank in the United States. He was also responsible for overseeing TD Bank Group's environmental strategies and activities for 10 years.  Mike has held senior leadership roles managing large businesses around the world, and is also a former chair of the Canadian Bankers Association.

Mike continues his long-standing involvement in not-for-profit work in Canada, including the environment and sustainability.  He and his family are passionate about conservation and Canada’s outdoors, and have canoed, kayaked and hiked all over the country for decades.

Mike is proud to serve on the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s board.

Catherine Grenier joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) as its president and CEO on September 28, 2020.

An award-winning leader, Grenier has held executive positions with some of Canada’s foremost nature conservation organizations. Prior to joining NCC, Grenier served as vice president for national parks operations with Sépaq. She was responsible for the management and development of 27 Quebec parks and resorts. Grenier mobilized the Sépaq team to generate an increase of more than 40 per cent in visits to the province’s parks network.

Prior to joining Sépaq, Grenier held senior roles with Parks Canada. Among her achievements there, she led the process to create Canada’s first national urban park, in Toronto’s Rouge Valley.

Grenier holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Carleton University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Ottawa. She received the 2016 Award of Excellence from the Canadian Parks Council in recognition of her community leadership. Her work in protected areas has been recognized with several awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Grenier says she is thrilled to be joining the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “I am honoured to have been selected to lead a team which is shaping the future of conservation in Canada,” she said. “This is such a unique opportunity to accelerate the scope and scale of conservation in our country, to connect with Canadians, and to build lasting support for nature. I can’t wait to get started.”

Grenier took over the position from John Lounds, who led the organization through 24 years of exceptional growth and success.

Michael Paskewitz is the chief of staff and corporate secretary in the Office of the President and CEO at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). He brings 15 years’ experience in non-profit management, public affairs, governance, organizational culture and communications, and a passion to make Canada a world leader in nature conservation.

He has a BA in political studies and media from Queen’s University and a master of Philanthropy and Non-Profit Leadership from Carleton University. Prior to his time at NCC, he worked to enhance the public affairs and organizational capacity of international development non-profits, working with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He has also spent time in Ottawa working as a political staffer in the Leader’s Office of a federal political party. His public affairs work has led to positive public policy outcomes for environmental and international development efforts.

Michael developed his passion for nature during his upbringing in Hong Kong and Manitoba, where he regularly hiked Hong Kong’s many mountains and spent summers by Lake Winnipeg.

Arlene Strom is a 2024 Advanced Leadership Initiative fellow at Harvard University, and brings years of experience in sustainability leadership in the energy sector from various leadership positions including general counsel, chief sustainability officer and chair of the inclusion and diversity council at Suncor Energy Inc. A lawyer by training, Arlene is passionate about Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and multi-stakeholder collaborations that help to progress solutions that support low or no carbon energy. She serves on the advisory board of Portage Energy, a company focused on producing sustainable aviation fuel from municipal waste and chairs the Alberta Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Awards Foundation board.

Arlene joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Board of Directors in October 2024 and looks forward to bringing her commitment to environmental solutions to help advance NCC’s strategic goals.

Robert J. Sutton is a managing partner in Calgary for Korn Ferry. He is also a member of the Firm’s Global Industrial Market’s Energy Sector, as well as the Firm’s Board & CEO Services group.

Bob has been involved in an extensive number of pan-North America and international assignments, with functional emphasis on board directors, CEOs, corporate directors, general management, financial management, corporate finance, engineering, exploration and operations management.

Bob entered the executive recruitment business over 25 years ago with a search firm in Toronto. During his tenure, he was a partner in their Calgary office and led the firm’s energy practice for 10 years. He has conducted more than 500 senior-level searches for clients in a variety of industries, with a primary focus on the energy sector, and has specific expertise in the upstream, midstream, downstream and energy services industries.

Prior to his executive search career, Bob was a divisional vice-president with Madison Chemical Industries, a chemical manufacturer specializing in advanced polyurethane products. Previously, he was a sales representative for Procter and Gamble in Ottawa and co-managed Regional Drilling, a seismic drilling contractor that operated in Alberta and Oklahoma.

Bob served on the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation Board for several years and is a past member of the Campaign Cabinet of the United Way. He currently sits on the Board of West Island College.

He holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Western Ontario, as well as a bachelor’s in general studies from the University of Michigan.

He is an avid cyclist, skier and fly fisher, and enjoys spending time in the backcountry with friends and family.

Bruce Cooper is CEO of TD Asset Management (TDAM) as well as senior vice president of TD Bank Group. He is responsible for all TDAM business, including investment management, TD Greystone, mutual funds, operations, risk management and distribution. He has been with TDAM for more than 25 years and has worked in both Toronto and the U.K., managing Canadian, U.S. and global equities across a variety of mandates. Bruce holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Queen’s University, an MA in political science from McGill University and is a CFA charterholder.

David Blair is a partner with the law firm of McCarthy Tétrault. He is recognized for his expertise in transportation and logistics law. He is committed to his community in the Quebec region and acts as a director or administrator of numerous sociocultural organizations. He is a graduate of the faculty of law at Laval University in Quebec City in 1979. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1980. He is also a certified company director (Administrateur de sociétés certifié). In May 2017, he was appointed Honorary British Consul for Quebec City. He was awarded the Order of Canada in December 2013 and Avocat Émérite in 2019. He is also president of the Lac Gravel Fishing Club in Charlevoix, Quebec.

David loves the wilderness and participates in many outdoor activities, including backcountry skiing, river canoeing, ice canoeing, hiking and fishing. He is passionate about the conservation of the Saint-Lawrence Estuary and is a proud member of the regional council for the past four years.

Diane Griffin has been involved with the Nature Conservancy of Canada since 1999, having served on the regional and national boards, then as program manager for Prince Edward Island and now again on the Atlantic and national boards. Diane is currently the Atlantic Regional Advisory Board Chair. She brings years of experience working in municipal, provincial and federal governments, as well as non-profits. She is also a retired senator, serving from 2016 to 2022 in the Senate of Canada. Her passion has always been land conservation, which she sees as a valuable legacy for both wildlife and people.

Karen Henders, B.A., B.F.A, M.B.A, is a consultant in the non-profit and charitable sector, with a focus on strategy, and innovation. She brings to this role her experience as entrepreneur and business coach; as manager of provincial funding programs in support of the creative industries and arts and culture organizations in Saskatchewan; and as director of community foundation programs to strengthen the charitable sector and encourage philanthropy.

Karen grew-up in Saskatchewan and calls Regina home. She is an avid birdwatcher and was a natural history documentary producer in her early career in the film and television industry. Karen’s love of nature developed over summers at the family cottage in the Moose Mountains. There, she learned to appreciate the complexity and fragility of ecosystems. Karen is a long-time friend of NCC and joined its Saskatchewan Regional Advisory Board since 2023.

Ms. Hamberg is a partner and National Clean Technology Lead at Deloitte Canada where she advises on the commercialization of climate technology at industrial scale. She serves clients across all sectors on the evolving clean technology landscape, the required pace and sequencing of investment strategies, and how to de-risk and operationalize new technology with a particular focus on zero-emission transportation, hydrogen, and small modular nuclear reactors. Karen is a clean technology executive with more than 20 years of global experience in the deployment of clean transportation technologies and the policy/regulatory frameworks to enable growth, scale, and market leadership. Prior to Deloitte, she held a range of senior executive positions at Westport Fuel Systems (WPRT: TSX and NASDAQ) with experience in corporate strategy, market creation and development, product commercialization, sustainability/ESG integration, external communications, and policy and regulatory affairs.

Appointed to the Government of Canada’s Industry Strategy Council and named chair of the Clean Technology Economic Strategy Table in June 2020, Karen has advised cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, and senior staff on accelerating the deployment of made-in-Canada cleantech, scaling Canadian companies, and ensuring Canada’s global competitiveness in a net-zero economy.

She is currently a Director of TRIUMF Innovations, a trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Nature, Chair Emeritus of CALSTART in Pasadena, California, Chair of the British Columbia Regional Board of Directors of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and past Chair of the United Way of British Columbia Campaign Cabinet.

Karly Healey is the chief financial officer and head of operations at Cormark Securities Inc., a leading independent investment dealer. Karly is a graduate of the honours in Business Administration program from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.

Karly holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation and started her career with Ernst & Young LLP. She has been involved with the Nature Conservancy of Canada since 2017 when she joined the organization’s audit & risk committee. 

Lydia is a consultant with All Around Consulting. She has developed a unique, practical leadership program that empowers and inspires Indigenous leaders to lead with confidence and authenticity. As proud and accomplished Indigenous woman, Lydia is a leader in every respect: in her own life, in her community, and in her previous 26-year career in Health and Safety Management in the Canadian energy sector.

In 2020, Lydia was elected as a Councillor to the Mikisew Cree First Nation in Treaty 8 Territory, and is well known for her determination and commitment to being a strong voice for the Indigenous community. She has developed a successful on the land, by the land wellness and healing camp for Indigenous youth, women, and elders.

Lydia credits her industry and leadership success to her confidence in her Indigenous identity – an identity that respects others and demonstrates appreciation and gratitude to the environment that shaped her.

Lydia Courteoreille joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada's Board of Directors in October 2023.

Michael Crothers retired from Shell in 2021 after 33 years at the company, including over five years as the president and country Chair of Shell Canada. In 2018, he led Shell’s Integrated Gas business in Canada and was instrumental in the approval of the LNG Canada project. He was Shell Canada’s lead shareholder representative on LNG Canada until his retirement.

In addition to leading Shell Canada’s social investment program and Indigenous Peoples strategy, Michael has been involved with the United Way of Calgary Campaign and was appointed co-Chair in 2021. Michael has worked closely with NCC, initiating the relinquishment of 8,600 square kilometres of Shell-held resource leases in Lancaster Sound, which became part of the largest protected area ever established in Canada.

Michael Walker is a seasoned lawyer with 34 years of experience at Legal Aid Manitoba, where he specialized in criminal law and oversaw law offices of various sizes. Upon his retirement, he transitioned into academia, serving as an instructor and supervisor for one of the University of Manitoba's clinical legal education programs in the Faculty of Law.

Throughout his career, Michael has been deeply committed to public service, volunteering on the boards of non-profit organizations focused on social services and access to justice.

A lifelong resident of Winnipeg, Michael is married with two adult sons. An avid canoeist, he enjoys canoe trips, as well as, kayaking, cycle touring and hiking with his family. A particular favourite is the off-grid family cottage in northwest Ontario, which serves as a peaceful retreat.

Michael's deep appreciation for nature and understanding of the importance of land conservation led him to join the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Manitoba Regional Advisory Board in 2022. He was appointed to the National Board of Directors in 2024, furthering his commitment to preserving Canada’s natural landscapes.

Pat is a corporate director and retired partner of the law firm Torys LLP. She is an independent director of companies involved in the utilities, construction and seniors living sectors.

Pat has long-time experience in nature and biodiversity protection and climate change. She is the board chair of the Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation and of U.S-based Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation and a director of U.S.- based Rainforest Trust. She is a former member of the Government of Ontario’s Advisory Panel on Climate Change and the former Board Chair of World Wildlife Fund Canada. Pat is a contributing author to several books and publications on climate change, carbon finance and climate-related governance.

Sanjay Dhawan joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada's Board of Directors in October 2023.

Tamar Pichette has law degrees from Oxford University, England, and Osgoode Hall, Toronto, and a B.A. in political science and psychology from Vassar College, NY. Tamar practised commercial litigation and contract law in Toronto, and has served on several Boards, both in Canada and the United States, including the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, where she chaired the Compliance Committee, as well as teaching at the Ontario Bar Admission course. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Vassar College in 2015, and was most recently Chairperson of the Board of Directors of JobTrain, a California Bay Area organization dedicated to helping the disadvantaged rebuild their lives through vocational training.

In her time at JobTrain, Tamar worked closely with committee chairs to reformulate board governance toward more effective use of board members’ skill sets across organizational requirements and worked closely with the CEO to recapitalize the organization to deliver on its strategic plan and on strategic planning. Over the past six years, she has been involved with the establishment of Kenauk Nature, in Montebello, QC, as a conservation territory, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Tamar now lives in London, UK, with her husband, Patrick.

Wayne King is a 35-year veteran of the high-tech industry and is the president and founder of InfoMedia Systems Group in Ottawa, Ontario. InfoMedia Systems Group is a cloud solutions and consulting firm with expertise in Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Google and Amazon cloud-based applications and services. it provides end-to-end virtual office and hybrid business solutions for any size organization.

Wayne has an honour’s bachelor of mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo, and a master’s of business administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.

He lives in rural Ottawa, where he and his family enjoy many outdoor activities, including camping, kayaking, scuba diving, skiing and motorcycling.