Launched this spring, the Ivey Conservation Leadership Program is a new executive leadership program designed specifically for the conservation community. Developed by the Ivey Business School in partnership with the Centre for Land Conservation, the program equips mid-to-senior-level leaders from across the conservation sector with the skills and mindset necessary to navigate complexity and lead effectively in a rapidly changing world.

Set to welcome its first cohort this fall, the week-long program is grounded in four key learning outcomes:

• Entrepreneurial Thinking: Embrace risk, think big, and pursue ambitious goals despite uncertainty. Learn to identify opportunities where others see obstacles, leverage limited resources creatively, and adopt a growth-oriented approach that’s essential for scaling conservation efforts.
• Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making: Anticipate challenges, identify emerging trends, and cut through complexity. Develop the skills to make future-focused decisions, prioritize what matters, and allocate resources effectively.
• Collaborative Negotiations: Build strong partnerships, secure critical funding, and advocate for your conservation priorities. Gain confidence in navigating diverse stakeholder conversations with clarity and purpose.
• People Leadership: Lead with vision and character. Build trust, communicate with impact, and motivate diverse teams to navigate complexity and deliver on your mission.

Participants will have the chance to learn from Ivey faculty and sector experts, engage with peers facing similar challenges, and explore new ways of thinking that can drive impact in their work.

By bringing together conservation professionals from across the country, the program offers more than individual development — it fosters community. Each cohort is thoughtfully selected to ensure a balanced mix of perspectives, roles, and voices from across the sector.

The inaugural cohort will prioritize executive directors in the sector and will run from October 27-31, 2025.

The Metcalf Foundation is proud to be a founding supporter of the Ivey Conservation Leadership Program alongside the Chisholm Thomson Family Foundation. We look forward to seeing how this program will inspire and equip a new generation of leaders working to safeguard lands and waters across Canada.