2023
Emerging Leaders
Claire Seaborn headshot
Clean50 Emerging Leader Award Logo

Claire Seaborn

Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Canada

As Chief of Staff to Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, and former Director of Policy and Legal Affairs to Minister Catherine McKenna, Claire has been at the forefront of executing green infrastructure initiatives that are central to the Government of Canada’s Climate Plan. Amongst an array of projects, three in particular stand out. First,  the development of a $2.75 billion Zero-Emission Transit Fund, which is incentivizing communities to purchase 5,000 zero-emission public transit and school buses, in partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank.  Second, Claire championed a $200 million Natural Infrastructure Fund to support municipal and Indigenous-led projects that protect biodiversity, contribute to sustainable growth and improve access to nature, including supporting Toronto’s Ravine Strategy, Saskatoon’s Green Strategy, Vancouver’s Rain City Strategy, and Halifax’s Green Network Plan. Third, Claire drove the development of Canada’s first National Infrastructure Assessment, a policy approach modelled off the UK and Australia, to identify Canada’s needs and priorities in the built environment and undertake long-term planning for a net-zero future.