“I was able to ride the wave, as opposed by being hit by it.”
Margaret Catley-Carlson is referring to the beginning of her work career in the 1960s and 70s during a time where there was a “concerted effort to create career opportunities for women.” Margaret’s analogy is appropriate given that her professional passion now is water resource management and how the world balances needs for water in industry, energy, agriculture and drinking water use. “Access to drinking water is a political decision,” says Margaret. She is involved currently with six international organizations: she is Chair of the Policy Board of the International Center on Mountains, Vice Chair of the Canadian Water Network, serves on the juries of the Stockholm Water Prize and Tyler Prize, on the Board of the Syngenta Foundation on Sustainable Development, and on the Advisory Council of the World Food Prize, and Library of Alexandria.
Margaret is a powerful asset to any organization she joins. She started her professional career as a diplomat in external affairs. She has an impressive career history. She served as president of the Canadian International Development Agency and the Population Council. She was also deputy minister of Canada’s health and welfare department and deputy executive director for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). She received the Order of Canada in 2002 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
Margaret has lived in many different countries around the world. She was born in Regina and grew up in Nelson, B.C. She was married in Trinidad, lived in New York, London, England, Montreal, Ottawa and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
One thing she remarked is basic differences between women and men around the world. “Women are builders – institute builders, family builders. They are not as interested as men in creating individual legacies,” she says. Another key difference: women are more connected. “Women don’t get detached. They are connected through their families and friends. Men tend to be less connected and when times are really difficult, they can get detached.”
Giving back and public service is in her family’s DNA. Her father served in the forces. “I was brought up in a household where my parents were community leaders. Mother chaired community chest and my father was treasurer of the fall fair. Public service was very much part of what you would do. It was part of the ethic.”
Margaret is a generous supporter of organizations around the world. “My interests are so global – the organizations I know best are global and international,” she says. She’s also a generous supporter of United Way British Columbia. Because of her constant travel, she is less familiar with local issues. “United Way is an opportunity to give back where I live.”
“For me United Way is an opportunity to do something where I live and for the most compelling need. I know about how to help children around the world, water issues around the world, eyesight around the world,” she explains. She has a deep respect for and understanding of the expertise of leaders of non-profit organizations. That’s another reason she supports United Way: because of its leadership and connections and their understanding of what’s going on in her community.
“I’ve had an extremely rich and wonderful life and never put this down to my efforts in isolation. This has always been against a backdrop of good schooling systems, good health, safe streets, cities that work, police that do their jobs to keep a safe community,” she explains as to why you should give back to your community. Margaret’s advice to younger women? “Go in the direction of things that interest you and volunteer. You will meet people and learn of opportunities that will move you towards your goal.”