Kate Willis Ladell

Background

About Kate Willis Ladell

I am the Director General of Biodiversity Management within the Aquatic Ecosystems Sector of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. My areas of responsibility include Aquatic Invasive Species and Aquatic Species at Risk. I joined Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2009 and have held a number of roles in both the Pacific Region and the National Capital Region. From 2009 – 2015, I worked as the Senior Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Program Manager out of Vancouver, responsible for establishment and management of Oceans Act MPAs. In 2015, I relocated to Ottawa with my family, working for the Science & Policy Integration sector of Natural Resources Canada. Since returning to DFO in 2016, I worked as the Manager of Marine Conservation in the Marine Planning & Conservation division, and then more recently as Director of the Species at Risk Operations division, where I was responsible for recovery planning and protection for aquatic species at risk, implementation of the Nature Legacy Initiative, and the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk. Prior to my federal Public Service career, I worked with Living Oceans Society, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and as a biologist studying marine mammal ecology and physiology. I hold a Master of Science Degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wesleyan University.