BURLINGTON, ON – The Conservation Halton Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Chandra Sharma as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. Chandra will begin her term with Conservation Halton on September 9, 2024.
Chandra Sharma has spent over two decades supporting the mandate of Ontario’s conservation authorities. In her current role as Chief Administrative Officer of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Chandra has successfully led transformative initiatives to advance strategic planning with sound performance measures, strengthen government and stakeholder relations, and enhance long-term financial sustainability while reducing reliance on municipal levy. She is also a member of both the Canadian Institute of Planners and Ontario Professional Planners Institute and serves on the Board of Conservation Ontario, the umbrella agency representing Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities.
In previous senior leadership roles held with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Chandra saw to the effective development and implementation of cross-sectoral watershed management programs in Canada’s largest urban centre, with a continuous focus on strategic partnerships and community engagement.
The naming of Chandra Sharma as Conservation Halton’s new CEO follows a three-month long selection process and Canada-wide search. Recruitment began after predecessor Hassaan Basit announced in February that he would be joining the City of Burlington as City Manager—a role which he assumed in April 2024 following an outstanding career at Conservation Halton spanning almost 20 years.
Incoming CEO Chandra Sharma will work closely with Conservation Halton’s interim leader, Barbara Veale, to ensure a smooth transition of duties. Barbara Veale is Conservation Halton’s Senior Director of Watershed Management and Climate Change and has been serving as Acting Chief Administrative Officer since April 2024.
The Conservation Halton Board looks forward to welcoming Chandra Sharma into her new role this September.
QUOTES
“Chandra Sharma is widely recognized as a transformative and empowering leader who prioritizes the building of strong relationships with partners and the public. She will be joining Conservation Halton with over 25 years of progressive experience in the sector and with a demonstrated track record of setting and achieving high standards of organizational excellence, including in the key areas of client service and fiscal responsibility. As Conservation Halton’s incoming CEO, Ms. Sharma will continue the critical work of advancing our mission and mandate through her visionary leadership, extensive expertise in stakeholder and community engagement, and proven ability to cultivate and empower teams of talented professionals. Our Board is delighted to welcome her to Conservation Halton this fall.”
– Gerry Smallegange, Chair, Conservation Halton Board
“It has been an immense privilege to lead the critical work of conservation authorities for over two decades. I am honoured to join the exceptional team at Conservation Halton. My predecessor, Hassaan Basit, created a solid foundation to support our future work. I am committed to ensuring that we remain innovative and solutions-driven to address the needs of our growing communities and to continue to protect the health of our watersheds. Together with our Board, staff, partners and engaged communities, I look forward to steering the organization into the next decade with a renewed focus on innovative programs and outstanding service delivery.”
– Chandra Sharma, Incoming Conservation Halton CEO