Margaret Gillis is the founding President of the International Longevity Centre Canada, part of a global network of 16 Centers dedicated to advocating for the rights and needs of older people. An award-winning leader, Margaret was instrumental in establishing the Age-friendly Community program, which now spans over 900 Canadian communities and 26 countries. Notably, she led a government-NGO project to protect seniors during disasters, earning an individual award from Her Majesty the Queen.
With extensive experience in human rights, Margaret has represented older people at the UN General Assembly and serves as Chair of the National Advocacy Working Group at the Global Alliance on the Rights of Older People (GAROP) and the Working Group on Mainstreaming Aging at UNECE. A health promotion expert with a focus on aging, women, and children, Margaret is dedicated to advancing the rights of older individuals globally.