Kerrie Blaise, Board Vice-President

Kerrie Blaise

Based in Northern Ontario, Kerrie Blaise is an environmental lawyer whose practice centres on environmental rights and justice. Today, she is one of only a handful of public-interest environmental lawyers who serve Indigenous communities, non-profits, and community leaders on issues of urgent matters related to climate, Indigenous rights, and environmental protection.

Kerrie is a driven advocate, representing those who have been most affected by development, environmental hazards, and systemic racism, and she works to amplify their voices – whether in the courts, before lawmakers, or within their communities - to precipitate change.

With a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh and Bachelor of Environmental Studies from York University, Kerrie’s background in ecological science informs her work and practice at a time where many provinces are witnessing a deregulation of their environmental laws and accompanying safeguards for local communities, species, and their habitats.

Kerrie also maintains an active public speaking roster, making guest appearances at conferences on topics addressing Indigenous land management, international law, and nuclear energy; and delivering lectures at law schools about energy poverty and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). She is also an invited member of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership and Domestic Law and Policy Stream; and a federal appointee on an environment and international trade advisory group to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Beyond her work in environmental law and advocacy, Kerrie is also an accomplished violinist, having played in orchestras throughout the United Kingdom, and sits on the board of New Music Concerts, which inspires listeners with extraordinary performances of the world’s most adventurous music.