Biography

A long-time champion for women’s leadership, gender equality, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Mary Coyle has forged a distinguished career in the post-secondary education and non-profit sectors, with a focus on international and local development.

She holds a diploma in French Language from the Université de Besançon in France and a Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Literature with a major in French and a minor in Spanish from the University of Guelph. After working for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as a Cuso International cooperant in Botswana, she earned a Master of Arts in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. She subsequently worked as a rural development advisor in Indonesia and later to support two State Islamic Universities develop their community engagement strategies.

Senator Coyle started her early career working first in the Southern District of Botswana as the Rural Industrial Officer and then serving as Rural Development Advisor to the District Planning Board in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

For the next decade as Executive Director for Canadian NGO, Calmeadow, Senator. Coyle helped the organization pioneer the creation of the world’s first commercial micro finance bank, BancoSol, in Bolivia and establish the First Peoples Fund to provide micro loans to First Nations and Métis communities in Canada.

In 1997, she joined St. Francis Xavier University, serving as Vice President and Director of the school’s Coady International Institute, a world-renowned centre of excellence in community-based development and leadership education. During her tenure, the Coady International Institute grew significantly, enhancing its global education and innovation agenda and expanding programming for women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples

On May 27, 2022, Ms. Coyle received an honorary degree, Doctor of Business Management from the Meru University of Science and Technology in Kenya.

Senator Coyle serves on the Senate Aboriginal Peoples and Foreign Affairs Committees, and she is co-founder and co-chair of Senators for Climate Solutions.

She has 3 daughters, Emilie, Lauren, and Lindelwa, and 7 grandchildren.