Meet Catherine Grenier, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Social Change — National Impact Finalist

Catherine Grenier, a 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards finalist, is the President and CEO of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), leading the not-for-profit’s efforts to protect and restore Canada’s natural landscapes. An award-winning leader, she has held senior roles with some of the country’s foremost conservation organizations, such as Parks Canada and Sépaq.

Catherine’s achievements include helping establish Canada’s first national urban park in Toronto’s Rouge Valley, as well as overseeing the development of 27 Quebec parks, driving a 40% increase in visits to the province’s park network. Her leadership has been recognized with multiple honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Canadian Parks Council Award of Excellence.

Meet Catherine and learn more about the woman leading the way in the future of Canadian conservation efforts.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when…

I realized that the best way to protect what I care about most—nature, people, and communities—is through dedicating my life to conserving nature. This is why I joined a non-profit organization like NCC, which is helping to provide the best opportunity to protect nature boldly. Having the ability to develop an ambitious plan and leveraging the independence of NCC and its unique advantages allows our team to use creative and innovative means to bring Canadians from all walks of life together to conserve nature.

Entrepreneurship is made for me because…

I enjoy combining a bold vision with action. I love taking an ambitious idea and pushing it over the finish line, even when the path forward is steep. I’m at my best when rallying a team around a common purpose, building partnerships, and finding creative ways to deliver impact for nature and communities. For me, leadership is about making things happen—and ensuring that people understand why what we do matters.

The impact I hope to make through my work is…

To protect what matters most to us and future generations: ensuring we have a resilient natural habitat and healthy communities for centuries to come. We must do this while demonstrating that bold ambition and sustainability can go hand in hand, inspiring future generations to do even more.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is…

Firstly, to have the courage to be authentically yourself and uphold your values. Secondly, one cannot achieve success alone. It takes a skilled team, united by a shared purpose, to transform an idea into global impact.

My proudest accomplishment is…

It’s challenging to take credit for any specific achievement, as it requires a dedicated team and numerous partners to achieve conservation. I am so proud of the NCC team for every single conservation win we have achieved. It is very moving to think about how we have mobilized partners, resources and communities to achieve conservation wins that will outlast us all, including me and my grandchildren. Overall, I am honoured to have helped NCC accelerate its pace of conservation: we are on track to double our impact towards a resilient future. 

The biggest risk I took that paid off was…

Before NCC, I had a long career in public service. Many would feel that this established career path was worth staying in for the career security it offers. But I thought that the impact I could make on nature would be even more significant in the non-profit sector. I would definitely say this risk has paid off. 

My biggest setback has been…

When there were moments in my career when progress felt unattainable, and there were no easy options available. 

I overcame it by…

Reframing the roadblocks that were ahead of me, leaning on my network of advisors who shared their wisdom, and remembering that persistence often outlasts resistance.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was…

Saying no is as important, if not more important, than saying yes to all opportunities that present themselves. A leader must be very purposeful about choices and priorities, helping to focus the team and the resources available on achieving goals that have the most significant impact.

I surprise people when I tell them…

While I thrive on big challenges that require bursts of energy, I often need quiet moments to recharge and refocus. I love reading, playing music, or spending time hiking, cross-country skiing, or mountain biking in nature. A climb up a mountain clears my mind and inspires the best ideas.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to…

Spend more time in nature. Despite working for a nature organization, I never seem to actually get enough time in the woods or in the mountains! I love taking my two kids out in nature, especially going mountain biking together. There is nothing that makes me happier.

If you Googled me, you still wouldn’t know…

That some of my most interesting ideas come from my time in nature—whether on skis, on foot, or on my bike, surrounded by nature’s power, sweat, and grit, I find clarity and motivation.

The future excites me because…

It calls us to come together—bold, courageous, and united—to protect the land and water that sustain us all. Through inclusive partnerships and shared purpose, we can transform today’s challenges into a foundation for resilient ecosystems and thriving communities. We recognize that this is the only way we can help address many of our current global challenges, and every day, I see more and more Canadians wanting to be part of the solution.

Connect with Catherine Grenier on LinkedIn.