Virginia Mearns is a respected Inuit leader with a long-standing commitment to advancing Inuit self-determination and community well-being in Nunavut.
Ms. Mearns currently serves as Senior Director of Inuit Relations at the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, one of the three regional Inuit organizations in Nunavut. She previously held several senior positions in the Government of Nunavut, including Principal Secretary to Premier Joe Savikataaq and Deputy Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, where she held a variety of responsibilities, including the oversight of strategic planning for the territorial government.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Mearns spent over a decade with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., where she held multiple leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, she worked alongside other Inuit leaders to ensure Inuit rights are upheld and programs and services are accessible to Inuit across Nunavut.
A dedicated public servant and advocate, Ms. Mearns has represented Inuit organizations in national forums and federal hearings. She currently sits on the boards of the Annauma Community Foundation, a Nunavut-based charitable organization that supports community development projects, and the Institute for Research on Public Policy, where she provides an Arctic and Inuit perspective to help inform research and policy discussions at the national level. Earlier this year, she was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her exceptional contributions to Nunavut.
Ms. Mearns lives in Iqaluit, where she enjoys spending time on the land with her family.