Habitat for Humanity Canada announces new President and CEO
April 24 2024 - 10:00AM
Habitat for Humanity Canada’s National Board is pleased to announce
that Pedro Barata will be taking over the role of President and CEO
effective June 24, 2024.
An experienced leader with over two decades’ experience in
non-profit organizations, Pedro has worked in senior roles in both
well-established and start-up organizations to drive innovation and
policy change on a range of issues, including skills and training,
affordable housing and homelessness, income security, urban
planning and economic development.
He is currently Executive Director of the Future Skills Centre,
where he led the start-up of the national research impact centre
and has launched more than 200 innovation pilots in every region
and sector in Canada. He was previously SVP Strategy & Public
Affairs at United Way Greater Toronto, where he oversaw $94 million
in annual community investment and led multiple advocacy campaigns
nationally and provincially.
“Pedro has dedicated his entire career to driving systemic
long-term improvement on key social and economic initiatives,
including poverty reduction and housing policy reform,” said
Riccardo Trecroce, Chair of Habitat Canada’s National Board of
Directors. “His ability to engage diverse groups and lead
cross-sectoral collaborations to benefit communities in need makes
him ideally suited to lead the federation as Habitat for Humanity
Canada plays its part in addressing the housing crisis.”
Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national charitable
organization and Canada’s only national affordable homeownership
provider. Together with 45 local Habitats operating in every
province and territory, and with the support of donors and
volunteers, it provides working families living with low to
moderate income the opportunity to become homeowners.
“Ensuring everyone has a safe, affordable home is essential for
a vision of an inclusive Canada where everyone can be at their
best,” said Barata. “I am honoured and excited to join Habitat for
Humanity Canada and contribute to an amazing cross-country movement
that is committed to tangible and lasting solutions to Canada’s
housing affordability challenges.”
Pedro Barata will replace Julia Deans who announced her
resignation in the fall of 2023 and will depart the organization at
the end of June. The National Board would like to thank Julia for
her dedication to Habitat for Humanity and her excellent work in
leading Habitat Canada and supporting the federation through an
unprecedented time.
About Pedro Barata
A passionate, values driven executive leader with over two
decades’ experience in a wide range of non-profits, Pedro Barata
has a proven track record fostering and driving multi-sector
collaborations that achieve solutions for communities.
He is currently Executive Director of the Future Skills Centre,
a forward-thinking hub dedicated to researching, testing,
evaluating and building innovative skills solutions to help job
seekers and employers in Canada navigate labour changes.
His prior work experience includes United Way Greater Toronto,
the Atkinson Foundation, Family Service Toronto, and Campaign 2000.
He currently serves as a board member at the Agora Foundation,
Better Children Education Foundation and Learnx. He is also a
member of Century Initiative’s Expert Advisory Panel.
Pedro holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University and a Master
of Social Work from the University of Toronto.
About Habitat for Humanity Canada
Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national
charitable organization working towards a world where everyone
has a safe and affordable place to call home.
Habitat Canada brings communities together to help
families build strength, stability and independence through
affordable homeownership. With the help of volunteers, Habitat
homeowners and 45 local Habitats working in every province and
territory, we provide a solid foundation for better, healthier
lives in Canada and around the world. Habitat for Humanity Canada
is a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which was
established in 1976 and has grown to become a leading global
non-profit working in more than 70 countries. For more information,
please visit www.habitat.ca
For more information:
Jennifer FowlerDirector, CommunicationsHabitat for Humanity
CanadaC: 437-317-8581E: jfowler@habitat.ca
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/721fa278-63f7-4c96-8eb3-59ed3273b812