Iris Almeida-Côté

Iris Almeida-Côté has, for over 29 years, occupied senior management positions in governmental and non-governmental organizations in the fields of strengthening democratic institutions, promotion of the rule of law, education and good governance. She is experienced in financial risk management, strategic planning, and impact assessment using participatory methodologies. She has a demonstrated track record of managing organizations in a context of cultural diversity and is a trainer in effective Board Governance. Iris Almeida-Côté is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada World Youth, effective June 1st, 2009.

Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute from 2006 to 2009, Iris Almeida-Côté was also Director of Policies and Programs at the Parliamentary Centre for Rights and Democracy from 1991 to 2006, and Head of Programs at Partnership Africa Canada from 1988 to 1991. On an international level, she was Assistant Secretary General of CIDSE (Coopération Internationale pour le Développement et la Solidarité) in Brussels from 1986 to 1988, and President of the International Movement of University Students in Paris from 1982 to 1986.

Iris Almeida-Côté holds a Master's Degree in International Law from the Université du Québec à Montréal (2001) as well as a Master's Degree in Sociology from the University of Bombay (1982). She received her advanced management training at the McGill Executive Institute in Montreal and the Canadian Centre for Management in Ottawa. She serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Lawyers without Borders, member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society of Association Executives, member of the Conseil interculturel of the City of Montreal, member of the Orientation Committee of the Institut d'études internationales de Montréal at UQAM, member of the Board of Directors of the Institut du Nouveau Monde, Chair of the International Development Committee for Asia and the Pacific of Development & Peace and member of the jury of the Toyota Earth prize.

In 2008, Iris was the laureate of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women Award presented by the Women's Executive Network as well as the laureate of the Prix d'Éxcellence presented by the Réseau des femmes d'affaires du Québec. In September 2009, she received the YWCA 2009 Women of Distinction Award.

In 2009 and 2010 she contributed as a mentor to the WXNWisdom II Mentoring Program. She is also a mentor to the Loran Awards of the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation. She is a resource person for women interested in joining non-profit as well as corporate Boards of Directors, for the Canadian Board Diversity Council.