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Meet Me
McGregor Leadership
About Betsy.
Meet Betsy
McGregor
Recipient of the Member of the Order of Canada in 2021, Betsy is recognized as an articulate champion of ethics in leadership nationally and globally - advancing youth, diversity and women in leadership. Her career began with the United Nations in South-East Asia and Europe. Founder of a global network of professional women in veterinary medicine, she has been a pathbreaker for gender mainstreaming in agriculture, science and technology.
Her two workshops entitled 'Value-Centered Leadership' and roadmap "Passion to Action" are based on her Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Her theme of 'Teamwork & Mountains', was designed at Harvard Kennedy School and based on Betsy's experience summiting two of the world's Seven Summits.
Betsy is author of the book 'Women on the Ballot: Pathways to Political Power' involved interviews with 95 Canadian trailblazers Her dynamic keynote presentations highlight the powerful personal stories of "Canadian Trailblazers". Candidate for Canada's Parliament, Betsy has delivered multiple campaign schools across Canada and designed a "Candidate's Toolbox" to help equip future leaders. Her goal is to encourage us all to "Be her. Ask her - or Support Her."
Betsy is a charismatic speaker with a commitment to excellence.
Invite Betsy to be your ally!
In International Development
At the outset of her career, Betsy served as a 'Young Professional' with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Indonesia and at FAO Headquarters in Rome assigned to the delegation from China when it entered the UN. In Canada, with the Science Advisor to the President of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Betsy worked on “Knowledge Brokering” of policy to top decision-makers. Appointed as Director of Studies for the UN-CSTD "Gender Working Group", Betsy helped drive the Declaration of Intent tabled at the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women, and the publication of the book "Missing Links" with IDRC. At the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), she worked in research and agriculture. As Deputy Director of the CIHR Gender Institute, and Advisor to the Dean of OVC on international development themes, Betsy has travelled extensively in developing nations promoting women in science, agriculture, women’s health research and the protection of indigenous knowledge systems.
Networking Women Veterinarians Globally
In 1987, Betsy founded the World Women's Veterinary Association (WWVA) to tackle rural poverty and support women's role in agriculture as pivotal to food security and environmental sustainability. WWVA implemented grassroots projects around the world and worked in international policy forums on mainstreaming gender in development. Four "Guidebooks" on gender in development were published with partners from the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, UN Agencies, Canada's development agencies CIDA and IDRC and Regional Organizations including IICA in the Americas. in 1995, Betsy lead a global WWVA delegation to the UN Fourth World Conference on Development in Beijing.
Advancing Gender, Science, Technology and Trades
For three decades, Betsy has championed women in science, technology and the trades. She was founding architect of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women Leader's Network, and coordinator of the science and technology stream. As Director of Studies of the UN-CSTD Gender Working Group, Betsy worked with the Chair, Professor Geoffrey Oldham, the UN Working Group and the Gender Advisory Board to successfully achieve the adoption of "Seven Transformative Actions" at ECOSOC and the 1995 World Conference on Women in Development in Beijing. The Commonwealth Secretariat asked Betsy to author a Manual on Mainstreaming Gender for Ministries of Science and Technology. With Dr. Sandra Harding Betsy co-authored the inaugural chapter on Gender in Science for the 1996 UNESCO World Science Report.
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International Development
As a Teacher
Betsy believes education is the backbone of a nation. Between degrees, Betsy received her Teacher's Diploma in Ontario and taught geography and physical education at St. Peter's High School in Peterborough. While at Harvard, Betsy joined the Board of SHAD - Canada's premier organization cultivating Canada's best and brightest in summer programs at leading universities across the nation with partners overseas focused on science, entrepreneurship and sustainable development. With Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, Betsy designed a "Trailblazers & Pathmakers" event matching future young leaders with established leaders in sports, film and theatre, religion, science, race, music, law enforcement and charity. These themes were replicated regionally through Lakefield College School and at events including the Boston Ethics Centre.
The Teacher
In Politics
In Politics
Author of the book "Women on the Ballot: Pathways to Political Power" Betsy logged over 100 hours of taped powerful personal stories with 94 of Canada's best known trailblazers in politics. Betsy has delivered countless dynamic campaign schools with national and provincial organizations. Three time candidate for nomination and two-time federal candidate, she has participated in national leadership races and served in the Shadow Cabinet of her Party. The "Candidate’s Tool Box" she delivers contains diverse strategies and skills to equip and empower women and individuals of all ages and intersectionality entering politics. Her “Tool Box” applies in Canada, in Parliamentary governments of the Commonwealth and has been is impactful in European and global elections.
Betsy the Athlete
Betsy believes that sport, physical activity and teamwork underpin the healthy growth of youth and the ongoing health of a nation. She also believes 'sports is for all'. She took leadership of Special Olympics Soccer in Peterborough as Head Coach building involvement to 40 athletes, 20 coaches and 3 teams. Well over a decade later this has grown under new leadership to close to one hundred involved in all aspects.
Betsy started her career as a Physical Education teacher and coach. Selected as President of the Girl's Athletic Association (GAA) she was chosen for the Ontario Athletic Leadership Camp (OALC), She has climbed two of the world’s "Seven Summits"; Mt. Aconcagua in Latin America, and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and walked large sections of “El Camino” – the pilgrimage of St. James in France and Spain.
The Athlete
Life-Long Learning
Education is a continuing theme in Betsy's life. Every decade she has continued studies. She earned her B.A. and M.A. from McMaster University with thesis research in the mountains of Ecuador. She achieved her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph University and has pursued continuing education at Harvard, Georgetown and Trent Universities including the Summer Institute of MIT in Mexico. Betsy studied viola and played with the Peterborough Symphony while she taught at St. Peter's. She also studied with Ottawa artist Bhat Boy and loves painting portraits.
The Learner
As Mom and 'Namma'
Betsy's son, Mac Faulkner, and her McGregor family are her top priority. She loved being involved in Mac's schools, sports and scouting as he grew up. Betsy was a Cub Leader in Ottawa and concurrently coached Mac’s Glebe soccer teams. She has cheered for Mac at hundreds of hockey rinks in communities, schools, universities, US and European team arenas. In equal fashion, Mac was involved in his Mom’s political races and helped as a “Guide-Runner” in Special Olympics Soccer. Returning home from Europe where he played professional hockey, Mac married and has swept his Mom's heart away with two Grand-Daughters whose ballet, gymnastics, robotics, art and hockey camps are now the centre of Betsy's attention!
The Mom
Betsy's Journey with Cancer
In January 2022, Betsy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and began her treatment at Lakebridge Hospital in Oshawa and Peterborough Regional Health Center. To help inspire, equip and empower other women following their cancer journeys, Betsy prepared a set of slides with her own insights and encouragement. Her journey continues!
Journey with Cancer
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