WWF-Canada announces appointment of Alex Himelfarb as Chair of the board of directors

Toronto, 15 December 2014 – WWF-Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Alex Himelfarb as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Alex brings a wealth of experience to the role, having held leadership positions in government, voluntary organizations and academia. Throughout his career, and in various personal initiatives, he has been engaged in all aspects of public policy, including the environment.  

Alex joined the WWF-Canada board in 2010 and says he’s privileged to take on the position of Chair. 

“WWF-Canada’s focus on the link between nature and human well-being, and its commitment to science-based action and collaborative solutions, makes it ideally positioned to help put nature and people at the centre of the agenda. As we all know, the stakes are higher than ever. With professional and committed staff, local and global capacity, and partners in every sector, WWF brings a lot to the table. I feel very privileged to be part of this.”

In a 28-year career with the federal government, Alex held a succession of senior positions, including Executive Director of the National Parole Board, Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board, and Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, culminating in his appointment as Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, the most senior public servant in the federal government. He served as Clerk for three Prime Ministers from 2002 until 2006 when he was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to Italy with concurrent accreditation to Albania, San Marino, and as High Commissioner to Malta.

Before entering the public service, Alex taught at the University of New Brunswick for nearly a decade, and more recently served as Director of the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs at York University, where he continues to serve as Director Emeritus. 

Alex also chairs the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness and sits on numerous nonprofit boards. 

A graduate of the University of Toronto where he obtained a PhD in Sociology, Alex has published extensively on Canadian public policy, with a particular focus on issues of social justice. He views environmental protection and social justice as inseparable.

“Environmental protection and social justice are not only compatible, they are mutually indispensable. Each needs the other. The best solutions will pursue both objectives simultaneously. We know that the consequences of environmental degradation and climate change fall most heavily on the poor while the rich have the greatest environmental footprint. It’s time to broaden our understanding of both environmental protection and social justice to encompass the equitable distribution of social, economic and natural resources.” 

About WWF
WWF-Canada is part of WWF (World Wildlife Fund), the global conservation organization. With the active support of over 250,000 Canadians, WWF is Canada’s largest conservation organization. 

WWF is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive. www.wwf.ca 

For further information:
Tammy Thorne, 416-489-4567 x7276, [email protected]