Margaret Catley-Carlson is actively involved in organisations that apply science and knowledge to national and international problems in freshwater governance, health, agriculture, environmental protection, international development and development finance. She is Chair of The Global Water Partnership and The Water Resources Advisory Committee for Suez/Lyonnaise of Paris. She is Vice Chair of the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa and is Chair-designate of the Board of ICARDA (Agricultural research in dry areas) in Syria, and the Library of Alexandria (Egypt). Mrs. Catley-Carlson was president of CIDA, the Canadian International Development Agency (1983-89), and of the Population Council (91-99). Her professional career began as a career diplomat Canada; she has been Deputy Minister of Health in Canada, and Deputy Director (Operations) of UNICEF, with the rank of Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. She has received eight honorary degrees and became an Officer of Order of Canada in 2002. .