Elizabeth Dowdeswell served as UNEP’s third Executive Director between 1992 and 1998. Under her leadership, UNEP enhanced its use of technology to better understand environmental issues.

Her work as the founding President and CEO of Canada’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization resulted in a government decision on the long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel. As Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment Canada, Ms. Dowdeswell was responsible for the national weather and atmospheric agency, including negotiating the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Her early career included terms as Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth for the Province of Saskatchewan, educational consultant, university lecturer and high school teacher. She is a director on the boards of several corporations and contributes in an advisory capacity to a number of Canadian and international not-for-profit organizations. Ms. Dowdeswell attended the University of Saskatchewan and Utah State University.

She is currently the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Canadian province’s viceregal representative of Queen Elizabeth II.