In April 2025, the University of Toronto announced the launch of the Lawson Climate Institute, made possible by Brian and Joannah Lawson’s transformative $60-million gift. Established to galvanize and accelerate the university’s contributions to addressing climate change, the Institute strengthens U of T’s capacity to advance climate-positive technologies, policies, and incentives.
LCI is pleased to announce the first two appointments to its External Advisory Committee: Catherine McKenna, lawyer, climate leader, and former Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada, and Katharine Hayhoe, Global Chief Scientist of Nature United and Distinguished Professor at Texas Tech University. The announcement of McKenna and Hayhoe’s appointments as Members of the Lawson Climate Institute’s External Advisory Committee was made on the heels of International Women’s Day, which welcomed both women, who are also University of Toronto alumni, for a conversation titled Your Career in Climate.
The appointment was also recognized by The Globe and Mail in their Politics Insider, which reads:
Catherine McKenna, a former federal Liberal cabinet minister, has joined the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy as a distinguished fellow and member of the advisory committee of the Lawson Climate Institute at the University of Toronto. Janice Stein, the founding director of the Munk School, said in a statement that she is thrilled that McKenna has accepted this appointment to help advance climate leadership at the school.
Building on the university’s longstanding leadership in sustainability and environmental stewardship, the Lawson Climate Institute integrates multidisciplinary expertise spanning engineering, science, finance, law, economics, business, and agriculture. Through intentional collaboration with governments, industry, and public-sector partners, LCI is structured to translate solutions-oriented research into scalable technologies and equitable, practical climate policy.
As the Lawson Climate Institute advances its mission, this External Advisory Committee will provide feedback on the Institutes’ activities and advise on emerging trends. The members of this committee will also identify external challenges and opportunities related to
the Institute’s continued progress and impact.
Meet the members:
Catherine McKenna
Member, Lawson Climate Institute External Advisory Committee
Catherine McKenna is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Climate and Nature Solutions. She is Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and former Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. She is Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments for companies, financial institutions, cities, and regions. Catherine founded Women Leading on Climate and hosts its new podcast. She is also Visiting Professor in Practice at the Grantham Institute at the London School of Economics and a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
Katharine Hayhoe
Member, Lawson Climate Institute External Advisory Committee
Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist whose work bridges climate science, risks, and resilience. As Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, she directs the organization’s global scientific strategy and leads a global community of more than 1,000 TNC scientists and science staff whose work underpins every aspect of TNC’s mission: from conserving lands and waters to developing scalable, science-based solutions to the biodiversity and climate crises. Recognized among the TIME100 most influential people and a United Nations Champion of the Earth, Katharine is known worldwide for her ability to make complex science accessible and meaningful, and for connecting climate and nature to people’s values in ways that inspire action.