Catherine MacQuarrie
School Fellow
Catherine MacQuarrie’s career comprises a range of experience and expertise — in media, public service and Indigenous governance. Over 23 years as a public servant, she held increasingly senior leadership positions in a number of departments and central agencies in the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Recently retired from government, she is now pursuing a life-long ambition to help advance First Nations’ self-government, with a leadership role in the Rebuilding First Nations Governance project (RFNG).
RFNG is funded through a SSHRC Partnership Grant to support an alliance of First Nation communities and tribal councils and academic researchers and practitioners working from the community level up to end Indian Act governance and build alternatives that realize the inherent right to self-government as affirmed in Canada’s constitution.
Catherine is Métis, born in Alberta and raised in the Northwest Territories. In the early part of her career, she worked as a reporter, editor and then executive director at NCS NWT, a non-profit Indigenous media organization. She is a Fellow of Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Policy from the University of Ottawa.
Federal government positions
2013-2015 Canada School of Public Service: Vice President, Strategic Directions and Service Excellence
2011-2014 Privy Council Office: Assistant Secretary, Business Transformation and Renewal
2009-2010 Agriculture and Agri-food Canada: Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources
2001-2007 Treasury Board Secretariat: Vice-President, Values and Ethics; Director General, Employer Policies; Executive Director, Office of Values and Ethics
1998-2000 Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: Director, Self-government Policy
1994-1998 Indian and Northern Affairs Canada/ NWT Regional Office: Director, Aboriginal and Territorial Relations