Book a Speaker

Priority access to our Speakers' Bureau will be given to Volunteer Canada members.

For more information on how to become a member of Volunteer Canada, please click here.

For interview requests or to book a speaker, please contact:

Graham Machacek
Manager of Marketing and Communications
gmachacek@volunteer.ca
(613) 231-4371 ext. 226

Ruth MacKenzie

In July 2007, Ruth MacKenzie was named president of Volunteer Canada. With 20 years experience working in the voluntary sector and a life-long commitment to voluntary action, Ruth has extensive experience at grassroots, provincial and national levels. She has been involved in countless volunteer opportunities, from front-line, client-focused roles, to community-based activist work and at the leadership level through a variety of boards, committees and advisory groups.

Ruth first joined Volunteer Canada in 2001, became a member of the senior management team in 2003 as Director of Programs and Operations. In April 2007 she assumed the role of Interim President until her permanent appointment. During her tenure with the organization, she directed the implementation of the Canada Volunteerism Initiative, established a network with national voluntary organizations, provided leadership on relationships with volunteer centres and other partners and stakeholders and worked closely with the Board of Directors in the establishment of governance policies, a board development and evaluation framework and a comprehensive Board nominating process.

Prior to joining Volunteer Canada, Ruth worked at the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, and later the Nova Scotia Division, in the area of volunteer development. In between those two positions, she established and ran her own company, receiving recognition for her business acumen by being selected as an Entrepreneur of the Year.