Rona Ambrose — Author

Biography

Rona is a passionate advocate for women and girls around the world who has led the global movement to create the International Day of the Girl at the United Nations. She believes that if we teach girls their rights at a young age they will be more likely to exercise them as they grow up. This belief motivated her to co-author The International Day of the Girl book.

Rona has spent her life passionately fighting for disadvantaged women and girls. She was recently recognized for her efforts by being chosen as 1 of 100 global women leaders featured in the She Innovates “Impossible to Ignore” campaign, organized by UN Women. She was one of the champions responsible for ensuring that Indigenous women in Canada were finally granted equal matrimonial property rights. Working alongside Nobel Peace Prize recipient Nadia Murad, Rona successfully fought for the creation of a Canadian refugee program to bring Yazidi women and girls who have been sexually enslaved by ISIS to safety in Canada. Rona continues to press the Canadian government to ensure her legislation, the JUST Act (mandatory sexual assault law training for judges), becomes law in Canada.

Rona believes we need more women in corporate and public life. She recently launched SheLeads, an organization focused on encouraging women to run for office and participate in public life. She also created and co-chairs the Women’s Economic Council of Alberta, a high-powered group of women corporate leaders who provide non-partisan economic advice to high-ranking government and political officials. As a federal minister, Rona created and chaired the federal advisory council for women on boards.

As a key member of the Canadian cabinet for a decade, Rona served as a minister across nine departments and agencies. At the time of her appointment, Rona was the youngest female cabinet minister in Canadian history. During her tenure as Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition, she gained the respect of parliamentarians of all political stripes. Today Rona is involved in US/Canada bilateral trade and competitiveness issues, serves on corporate boards and continues her work advancing the rights of women and girls.

When she’s not working (which is rare), Rona is usually found in the Rockies, horseback riding, hiking or skiing with her husband, JP, and their three kids.

Awards

The International Day of the Girl

2022 - Yellow Cedar Award, Ontario Library Association, Nominee
2021 - Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association, Winner
2021 - Skipping Stones Honor List, Skipping Stones Magazine, Winner
2020 - Holiday/Notable Days Category, Northern Lights Book Awards, Winner