The Canadian Waterpower Week

Nicole Girard is currently the Director General – Navigation Protection Program for Transport Canada. In this role, Nicole provides support and leadership to a wide variety of areas within the portfolio, including regulation and policy development.

Nicole joined Transport Canada in 1998 and quickly entered into management positions in Civil Aviation. In October 2013, she became Associate Director General in TDG and was appointed Director General in April 2015. Prior to her current position, she returned to Civil Aviation as the Director General, Aviation Safety Regulatory Framework and assumed the role of Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of Transport for Safety & Security in 2018.

Nicole is passionate about employment equity, diversity and inclusion, particularly in supporting through coaching and mentoring women in transportation. As a Leadership Coach, Nicole works with individuals and teams in reaching their personal and professional goals.

Before joining Transport Canada, Nicole Girard was in private practice and was a lecturer at the University of Ottawa’s French Common Law Program. Originally from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Nicole holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Common Law. She is also a professionally trained Leadership Coach and is working towards her international accreditation. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys riding her Harley and scuba diving.