Colette Murphy is the Executive Director of the Atkinson Foundation. As a grant maker, advocate and investor, Atkinson is committed to reducing income and wealth inequality by strengthening movements for decent work and a fair economy.

Prior to her work at Atkinson, Colette held senior roles with the Metcalf Foundation and the United Way Toronto. She also worked behind-the-scenes on innovative social and economic policy, anti-racism and leadership development initiatives over the course of her career. A Canadian who was raised in the US, Colette began her career in refugee settlement.

Colette stands out as a philanthropic leader for her ability to work effectively across government, a range of stakeholders, and the grassroots to mobilize systemic change. A respected advocate for social procurement, workforce development and other strategies aimed at equitable economic development, she has collaborated to leverage billions of public dollars earmarked for infrastructure development. To date, this work has resulted in projects on the ground in excess of $37 billion as well as new legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks. She is the co-founder of the Power Lab, a leadership learning and innovation initiative led by people who are generating economic and democratic power within historically excluded and equity-seeking communities.

Currently, Colette serves on the board of directors of the Shareholder Association for Research and Education and Philanthropic Foundations Canada. She has a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University.