Cary Hamel

Cary Hamel

Manitoba Director of Conservation

Cary Hamel is the director of conservation for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Manitoba, where he leads a team of land protection, stewardship and science professionals. A forest and prairie ecologist by training, he has more than 20 years' experience conducting field surveys and research, listening and learning from local communities, and integrating knowledge to guide effective on-the-ground conservation action. He believes that the widespread adoption of community-centred and nature-based adaptive management approaches are key to addressing some of the largest challenges to nature (and people!) of our time.

Cary sits on the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife Species in Canada Vascular Plants Species Subcommittee and is a Conservation Coaches Network coach. He has also served as president of the Friends of Birds Hill Park, on the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas steering committee and on the Manitoba Endangered Species and Ecosystem Advisory Committee.

Cary enjoys coaching his kids’ sports, but don’t ask him about last year's football season. Or last year's hockey season. He lives among the farms and fields of southern Manitoba.