Ms. Dilhari Fernando is Director General, Environment and Climate Change Canada, where she manages policy, business strategy and international affairs for the Meteorological Service of Canada, and serves as the Department’s Champion for Youth. With 25 years of experience, Ms. Fernando is proud of her contribution to over six federal Departments and Agencies, including the Privy Council Office, in areas of public policy, international affairs and corporate services. From 2013 to 2015, she also served as Executive Director of the non-profit Invasive
Species Centre, where she delivered programs to protect nature.
Ms. Fernando holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Forestry (Economics) from the University of New Brunswick, a Bachelor of Science from Western University, and a Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Toronto. She credits her multidisciplinary education as a foundation for tackling complex issues. In addition to being a mother of three, she is a Board Member of the Robert Bateman Foundation in Victoria, BC, where she gets to combine some of her favourite things: nature, art, youth. Based in Ottawa, she considers herself very fortunate to have worked and lived in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and British Columbia.