The National Board of Trustees of Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is pleased to announce that Sandra Schwartz has been appointed as our new National Executive Director, effective September 2019.

Ms. Schwartz joins us with over 20 years’ experience within the Federal Government (Ministries of Environment, Natural Resources, and Office of the Leader of the Opposition) and national associations and not-for-profit organizations, including the Canadian Electricity Association, Canadian Wind Energy Association, Pollution Probe and the Canadian Institute of Child Health. Most recently, she was Director of Parliamentary Affairs in the Office of the Minister of Natural Resources Canada. Her volunteer experience includes acting as a Director of Nature Canada, where she was a founding member of the Women for Nature initiative. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Government Relations Institute of Canada. Sandra also serves as a Trustee on the Ottawa-Carlton District School Board.

Sandra has extensive and deep experience in Canadian environmental policy issues and is committed to the success of CPAWS’ vision to protect at least half of our public land and water so that future generations can experience Canada’s irreplaceable wilderness.

She has extensive experience in communications, media, government and Parliamentary relations and public policy development, having held a number of related positions in Government and in the not-for-profit sector.

The National Board of CPAWS would like to acknowledge the extraordinary achievement and commitment of our interim National Executive Director, Alison Ronson. Ms Ronson remains in this position until Ms Schwartz takes up her duties, following which Ms Ronson will continue as a key member of the CPAWS national management team.