About
Fiona Crean’s professional accomplishments flow from one key understanding: that leaders who embrace equity and inclusion can improve their organizational effectiveness as well as their service to the public.
An experienced senior executive with a number of firsts, Fiona was initially trained as a teacher, mediator and investigator. She was most recently the first Chief Operating Officer of Indspire, the largest Indigenous educational charity in Canada. Before that, she was the first Ombudsman for Hydro One, Ontario’s biggest electricity utility. She was the first legislated Ombudsman at the City of Toronto, looking after the concerns of more than 2.5 million residents and addressing systemic change where it was required. Fiona also held the inaugural role of Ombudsperson & Director of Human Rights at York University and earlier in her career, she led the first municipal Employment Equity program in Canada at the City of Toronto.
Fiona was appointed to these positions because of her skills in systemic change, workplace investigation, conflict mediation and resolution of human rights issues. She has designed and delivered programs on how to investigate maladministration, corruption, and violation of human rights both nationally and abroad.
She is a recognized expert in strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and change management. As an Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ontario government, she brought in significant systemic changes to the province’s corrections system. As Executive Director at the Ontario Ombudsman’s office, she re-oriented the organization to better reflect and respond to the diverse nature of Ontario’s population.
Fiona worked with First Nations and Inuit communities, both as a teacher and advisor on curriculum and governance. She has also worked internationally to further the good governance of governments and organizations in South America, Eastern Europe and southern Africa.
Fiona Crean was awarded Ontario’s highest honour for public service in 2016. The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Distinction in Public Administration noted that Fiona “has broken new ground throughout her career in her quest for equity and fairness.” The YWCA also conferred on her its “Women of Distinction Award” for public service.
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- The Program on Leadership for Senior Executives: John F. Kennedy School Government, Harvard University
- The Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives: Harvard University
- Master of Arts, Special Education, specializing in Aboriginal Education: University of Toronto
- Elementary Teacher’s Certificate; Primary Specialist’s Certificate; Diploma in Child Study: University of Toronto
- Honours Bachelor of Arts, History of Art: University of Manchester