Megan Leslie
Senior Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
Biography
Megan Leslie became the president and chief executive officer of World Wildlife Fund Canada in December of 2017 where she previously worked as a consultant on oceans governance, then as head of ocean conservation. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Ontario 360, an evidence-based policy initiative housed at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
Before joining WWF, she was an NDP Member of Parliament, representing Halifax for two terms until 2015, during which she was deputy leader of the official Opposition, environment critic and vice-chair of the government committee on environment and sustainable development.
In Ottawa, Ms. Leslie introduced a motion and guided its unanimous passage to add plastic microbeads to the list of toxic substances under the Environmental Protection Act. She also worked across party lines to successfully expedite the passage of a bill to create Sable Island National Park Reserve.
Ms. Leslie was raised in Kirkland Lake, Ont. She received a BA in social & political thought and history plus a certificate in refugee and migration studies at York University as well as a LL.B. from Dalhousie University. Megan is also the proud recipient of an honourary degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.