Congratulations, John!
NCC President and CEO, John Lounds (Photo by Simon Wilson)
We wish to offer a hearty congratulations to our long-time president and CEO of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), John Lounds.
The award recognizes John's remarkable work and commitment toward the protection of nature, with the Ontario Nature “Achievement Award” on Saturday, June 12. It is being presented at Ontario Nature’s virtual annual meeting. Ontario Nature will also be issuing conservation awards to organizations, individuals and companies recognizing their “exceptional contributions to natural habitat protection.”
John is being celebrated for his career-long dedication and impact in the environment and conservation sector. He has worked with partners, people and communities in common cause to protect natural spaces for the wildlife and plants that rely on them. Many of these species are imperilled.
Prior to joining NCC, John was executive director of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (now Ontario Nature) for six years. He joined NCC in October 1997 as chief executive officer and president, a role he held until the fall of 2020. John semi-retired from the organization this spring but remains involved in various conservation planning and strategic initiatives.
Much of John's career has been devoted to nature and conservation. After completing his studies, he worked for the Government of Ontario, program director for the Ontario Round Table on Environment and Economy, management board analyst for the Ministries of Environment and Northern Development and conservation planner with the Ministry of Energy.
John’s energy and passion transformed NCC, which experienced significant growth and success during his tenure. NCC and its partners have helped conserve 14 million hectares (35 million acres),of ecologically significant lands and waters across the country.
While NCC has accomplished much, in John’s view, “there is so much more to do.”
Born in Brantford, Ontario, and raised in Meaford, John’s interest in nature developed while growing up in rural Ontario and spending late summers at a family cottage. He then applied these interests at university, obtaining his undergraduate degree in environmental studies (urban and rural planning) from the University of Waterloo and a master’s degree in environmental studies from York University.
John enjoys outdoor pursuits, particularly canoeing, birding and cross-country skiing. He is also an avid traveller, having explored various parts of the world, including Japan, India, Africa, Southeast Asia and South America.
