Jennifer Brennan

Jennifer joined Mastercard Foundation in 2018 and serves as Director, Canada Programs. She leads a dedicated team engaged in collaborative programming across Canada involving multiple sectors with Indigenous youth and their communities.  As part of the Foundation’s Senior Leadership team, she engages with peers across country teams throughout Africa in service of the Young Africa Works strategy and youth-led transformation.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Jennifer led key public policy negotiations on behalf of Indigenous Nations, advancing key issues, including education and land rights. As a strategic advisor and facilitator, she worked within and for Indigenous communities and organizations throughout Canada for twenty years.  Jennifer served as Chief of Staff at the Assembly of First Nations and, prior to that as Director of Strategic Policy, serving all First Nation Governments and working across sectors to enable strategic advancements in fiscal relationships, legal and policy developments.

Jennifer brings a strong sense of the importance of community participation, consensus building and an overriding commitment to the affirmation and recognition of Indigenous rights and community-led direction. She serves as a Member of the Governing Council of the Royal Society of Canada and as a Board member of several Indigenous charities.

Jennifer holds Honours (Carleton University) and Masters of Arts (University of Alberta) Degrees in Political Science.