Margaret Catley-Carlson

Margaret Catley-Carlson is a Canadian civil servant whose distinguished career with the Canadian government and a multitude of global organizations has, for more than five decades, enhanced Canada's contribution to international development, particularly as it relates to the protection and distribution of water supplies around the world.

Starting her professional career as a diplomat in external affairs, Margaret has held an array of distinguished posts including Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF in New York, President of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), President of the Population Council in New York, Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Welfare of Canada and member of the United Nations Development Program Governing Council.

She was formerly a Chair of the World Economic Forum Global Advisory Council on Water, the Board of the Crop Diversity Trust, and the Foresight Advisory Committee for Group Suez Environment. She was a patron of the Global Water Partnership, a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board, a member of the Rosenberg Forum, and served on the boards of the International Center for Water Resource Management, the IFDC (Fertilizer Management) and the International Institute for Environment and Development.

Margaret was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2002 for her outstanding work in public service. She has received honorary degrees from 10 universities and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.