Megan Leslie, former parliamentarian and current VP of ocean conservation for World Wildlife Fund Canada, has accepted the role of president and CEO of the conservation organization, the board of directors announced today. Leslie will assume the role beginning Dec. 1. taking over from David Miller who submitted his resignation earlier this month.

Alex Himelfarb, chair of the board of WWF-C said, “WWF-Canada is fortunate that Megan Leslie will be the next leader, building on the work David Miller and the team have achieved over the past four years to help reverse the decline of wildlife. She brings to the role incredible passion and considerable experience in achieving meaningful change for the environment.”

Leslie was an MP for Halifax from 2008-2015 and deputy leader of the official Opposition from 2012-2015. She was environment critic and vice-chair of the federal government committee on environment and sustainable development from 2011-2015.

Leslie has worked with WWF-Canada since January 2016, first as a senior consultant on oceans governance, and then as vice-president of ocean conservation since early 2017.

She was born and raised in Kirkland Lake, Ont. and has lived in Halifax since 2001.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in social and political thought and history and a certificate in refugee and migration studies, from York University; and a law degree from Dalhousie University. After law school, she worked as a community legal worker at Dalhousie Legal Aid Service.

Presented at the 2005 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Montreal on the issue of energy poverty.

Leslie said, “Environmental issues have been a passion for me since high school and throughout my political career. Leading WWF-Canada gives me an opportunity to continue environmental work across Canada, by helping stop wildlife loss while building community resilience and economic strength in the midst of a warming climate.”

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