New CAFF Executive Secretary!

Courtney was appointed CAFF Executive Secretary in June 2025. She first joined the Secretariat in 2011, holding several roles over the years including Communications Manager, AMBI Global Coordinator, Program Manager, and Acting Executive Secretary. She has supported multiple CAFF Chairships, Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Observers, and the Secretariat team in the development and delivery of CAFF strategies, projects, initiatives, assessments, events, reporting, and communication in a consensus-based intergovernmental setting.

"I'm honoured and thrilled to lead the Secretariat at a critical point in our collective efforts to conserve Arctic biodiversity," said Courtney. "The world has charted a course to address biodiversity loss, and while Arctic biodiversity is under threat and can be particularly vulnerable to disturbance, the Arctic is also full of resilient and dedicated people who have a deep connection and dependency on biodiversity. For this and many other reasons, the Arctic has important contributions and lessons to share with the rest of the world. I look forward to continuing to work with this great network and supporting the Secretariat to advance CAFF’s efforts with renewed enthusiasm."

Courtney is focussed on advancing the development of CAFF’s strategic plan, the Actions for Arctic Biodiversity 2025-2035, continuing to enable CAFF’s essential activities, such as the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program and Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI), and exploring Arctic contributions to global biodiversity conservation efforts.

Courtney joined CAFF after six years at Environment and Climate Change Canada, in the Canadian Wildlife Service and Science and Technologies Strategies Branch, where she worked with researchers to showcase departmental wildlife and landscape scientific results for decision-making.

Courtney holds a Bachelor Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Master of Science in Global Challenges through the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

For 20 years Courtney has held roles working with experts from across the globe to build cooperation and deliver knowledge for biodiversity conservation action, and we look forward to our continued success!