Catherine McKenna was the executive director of a non-profit organization that engages emerging Canadian leaders in public policy discussions. Prior to that, Minister McKenna co-founded and was executive director of the Canadian Lawyers Abroad charitable organization. She has practiced law at leading firms in both Canada and Indonesia, focusing on international trade, competition, investment and constitutional issues. She was senior counsel on the review of Canada’s military justice system by the Right Honourable Antonio Lamer, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. She was also a legal advisor on treaty negotiations with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor. She has taught at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and was a board member at the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.

While active internationally, Minister McKenna remains a very active member of her local community. She is the past vice-president of the Glebe Community Association and has served as a board member of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa and the Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool.