Catherine Grenier

Catherine Grenier

President and CEO

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

An award-winning leader, Catherine has held executive positions with some of Canada’s foremost nature conservation organizations. Prior to joining NCC, she served as vice-president for national parks operations with Sépaq. She was responsible for the management and development of 27 Quebec parks and resorts. Catherine 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, she 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.

Catherine 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.

Catherine says she is thrilled to have joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “I am honoured to have been selected to lead a team that 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.”

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