Darlene UPTON

Darlene joined Parks Canada in 1996 holding a number of positions in three national parks and at executive levels in the Agency’s National Office. She has a Bachelor of Science, an Honours Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation, and a Certificate of Tourism from Lakehead University and completed a Master of Science from the University of Toronto. Darlene is an alumni of Singularity University Executive Leadership program and a Salzburg Global Fellow. 

Darlene has significant experience working with Indigenous, federal, provincial, and municipal governments, and environmental non-governmental organizations in the establishment and management of protected areas. Darlene is also working internationally to support protected areas management in the role of Chair for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List Panel. Darlene puts a focus on building team and leadership and has been a guest on the Adam Grant – Work Life Ted syndicated podcast about Compassionate Workplaces. Darlene is involved in her community running an art program at a women’s supportive housing initiative, sitting as a board member for the Centre de Service Communautaire de Vanier, and is on the Advisory Board for Wavemakers, a work integrated learning program for youth.