Catherine Adams is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) within IISD’s Economic Law and Policy program. Her work focuses on the application of environmental and social safeguards, impact assessment, and gender-based analysis to large-scale projects in developing countries.

With over 24 years of experience spanning more than 30 countries, Catherine specializes in conducting environmental and social due diligence across the mining, power, infrastructure, agribusiness, and forestry sectors. She also has extensive experience leading strategic initiatives and technical capacity building in developing countries.

Prior to joining the IGF, Catherine held senior roles within the Government of Canada, as well as Canada’s export credit agency. Her consulting background includes work for multilateral development banks and international financial institutions.

Catherine holds a master's degree in environmental engineering from Memorial University in Newfoundland, a bachelor's degree in environmental biology from the University of Guelph, and a certificate in gender studies from George Washington University.

Based in Chelsea, Quebec, Catherine speaks English.