Sean SOUTHEY

CEO, Canadian Wildlife Federation; Chair, IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC)

Sean Southey has over 30 years of experience in the international development and communications field. He is the CEO of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, one of the largest environmental organizations in Canada working to conserve and inspire the conservation of Canada’s wildlife and habitats for the use and enjoyment of all. 

With a multi-sectoral background, Sean started his career with 5 years in the Canadian Ministry of Environment, followed by 12 years working with United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) environment team. His NGO experience was enriched through work with ICLEI (Secretary General), Rare (Vice-President) and ten years as President of PCI Media. Sean has led the development of over 100 campaigns world-wide, won over 100 awards for this work, and has literally reached billions of people with life and planet saving information. In 2016, Sean was elected Chair of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Commission on Education and Communication (CEC). In this role, he has worked tirelessly to enhance IUCN’s use of strategic communications for social change. This has included a lead role in designing and implementing IUCN’s #NatureForAll campaign and helping grow and support the work of the CEC and its 1,800 members. 

Sean is a dual Canadian and South African citizen and has lived, worked, and traveled in over 125 countries. He holds a MSC from the London School of Economics and a BA in Economics from University of British Columbia, and has a wonderful daughter, Safia.