The 2009 YMCA of Western Ontario Women of Excellence Honourees
Marlene McGrath
Business, Professions & Trades
“Many very accomplished women have succeeded locally or nationally. Few have succeeded internationally. Many women have built successful careers, but few have done so and maintained the extraordinary energy, humor and love of life exhibited by Marlene.”
F. Glenn Jones,
Lawyer, Miller Thomson LLP
After studying Chartered Accounting at the University of Waterloo, Marlene attended the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario. She practiced corporate/commercial law at local London firms from 1988 to 1994, when she joined 3M Canada as a Senior Counsel in the Canadian legal department. In 2001 she became General Counsel and Executive Director, Corporate Services for 3M. Since 2006 she has served as Human Resources Director, International Operations, responsible for all human resources activities in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Canada.
At 3M Marlene established “Women Leading Change,” a network to support and advocate on behalf of women in the workplace that later expanded to include the disabled, Aboriginal peoples, and ethnic minorities. She also supported and enhanced the existing mentoring program at 3M and has mentored many women in the company.
Marlene served as a member of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation from 2000 to 2007, and Chair from 2005 to 2007, and as a member of the Board of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario from 2004 to the present. She has also served on a number of other community boards.
A deeply committed wife and mother of three, Marlene McGrath reminds us that women can combine an international career and a family -- and have fun doing it!
