Who we are

Mark Fisher was appointed President of the CWA in March 2025. Prior to this, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) from 2014 to 2025, overseeing CGLR Canada and the CGLR Foundation, as well as their U.S. counterparts.

With over 20 years of experience across government, corporate, academic, and non-profit sectors, Mark has advised decision-makers on socio-economic and environmental issues, collaboration strategies, and policy solutions. Before joining CGLR, he was a Foreign Policy Analyst at the Privy Council Office, focusing on Canada’s North American and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) relations.

Mark has contributed significantly to Great Lakes governance, serving on the International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board and Ontario’s Great Lakes Guardians Council. He was also a publicly elected trustee for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board for 13 years and a director on the board of Easter Seals Ontario.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences from Brock University and a postgraduate certificate in Ecosystem Restoration from Niagara College. Committed to lifelong learning, he completed the Directors of Education program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and earned his ICD.D (Institute of Corporate Directors, Director) designation. He also undertook training in negotiations, strategic communications, and international law through the Canadian Foreign Service Institute.

A recipient of the Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence, Mark brings extensive leadership and policy expertise to the CWA.