Arthur J. Hanson

Art Hanson is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a Distinguished Fellow with IISD following his term as President and CEO from 1991-98. He provides initial guidance, conducts research, and offers advisory services on innovation for sustainable development, environment and economy relationships, biodiversity, oceans, and international development to a number of organizations around the world.

Dr. Hanson has a strong interest in linking science to public policy, and works closely with government bodies in Canada, the United States and Asia on specific problems related to natural resources and environmental management, and to mechanisms of accountability and governance for sustainable development. Institutional strengthening and capacity-building projects have also been an important focus of his work. In recent years much of his professional time has been spent working with China, which is at a critical point in its environment and development relationship. He initiated some of the largest environmental capacity-building efforts currently underway in Indonesia, simultaneously working with the government, NGOs, universities and the private sector. Much of this effort has involved establishing graduate degree programs such as environmental law and environmental studies.

He served two terms on Canada’s National Round Table on the Environment and Economy (NRTEE) and was Canada’s Ministerial Ocean Ambassador with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for four years. Dr. Hanson served for ten years as a member of the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and as a Mentor in the Trudeau Foundation. He has provided advice to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada since 1990 and has chaired various national and international initiatives. From 1978 to 1991, he was Professor and Director of the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University.