Kate Reekie is an expert in environmental sustainability, regenerative approaches, and the transition to a circular economy. She has over 25 years of experience managing international development programs and providing policy advice on issues related to the circular economy and plastic waste reduction. Kate has worked internationally with Global Affairs Canada and in the non-governmental sector in Japan, Kosovo, Honduras, and Vietnam. Her most recent international assignment was with the Canadian Embassy in Hanoi, where, as Head of Development Cooperation, she spearheaded a successful multi-stakeholder campaign to reduce single-use plastics and curb plastic pollution.
As an expert for the Technical Assistance Partnership-Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) initiative, Kate is collaborating with Colombia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism and INNpulsa, the National Government’s entrepreneurship and innovation agency, strengthening its institutional capacity to measure the impact of its entrepreneurship and circular economy programs. Through the initiative, she will support INNPulsa in developing a robust performance measurement framework, monitoring systems and processes, and, working with a local expert, a digital platform to facilitate efficient data collection and analysis.
Based in Ottawa, Kate has contributed her expertise at the local level with leadership roles in several non-profit environmental groups, advocating for zero waste policies and programs and advising the City of Ottawa on its Solid Waste Master Plan. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Carleton University, a Master’s in International Development from the Norman Paterson School for International Affairs, and a graduate certificate in Sustainability from Harvard University.