Celebrating Talent: Teresa Marques

It’s also gratifying to see that many people ‘placed’ by KCI have stayed and thrived in their roles long past the average tenure that we see in the sector.  These are people whose loyalty, expertise, and passion for the mission drives long-term impact for their organizations, and the people and communities they serve.

We are celebrating these individuals through this ‘Celebrating Talent’ series of short profiles and interviews. We hope you enjoy reading about these inspiring sector leaders and celebrating their success along with us!

Celebrating Teresa Marques, President & CEO, Rideau Hall Foundation

Why did you originally consider joining the Rideau Hall Foundation?

After working in major gift philanthropy for more than 10 years in Toronto, I was excited by the opportunity to help build a new kind of charitable organization in Canada – one that had its roots in the Office of the Governor General of Canada, but with an entrepreneurial spirit and truly focused on building a better Canada. Also, while the RHF was a relatively young organization at that point (2016), I knew it would be an opportunity to work closely with its founder and Chair at the time, the Right Honourable David Johnston, and to help bring to life his vision for the country through a new kind of social purpose organization. I didn’t know quite what to expect but I was confident that this role would never be transactional in nature, that I would have the chance to learn from and be inspired by great Canadians, and that it would give me the opportunity to really deepen my understanding of Canada. 

What’s kept you at the Foundation for 9+ years?

The continued sense of hope, optimism and ambition that’s inherent in every aspect of the RHF’s work. Also, the sense of possibility in terms of being able to deploy the various flexible levers we have at the RHF – whether it’s funding support, convening, connecting or amplifying – to address emerging challenges facing the country. 

Also, I’m really excited by the momentum of our work; when I began it was a collection of a few “very nice” things to do. And today, the full roster of programming for the country feels critical – not nice to do. Our programs are better connecting Canadians to each other and to the country; they are inspiring excellence, building pride, and reinforcing the fabric of Canadian democracy – something we can no longer take for granted. Lastly, it’s an incredible team we’ve built. A team of passionate, kind, values-driven individuals who love to have a laugh, and collaborate readily. As we’ve grown, we’ve continued to reiterate the importance of our culture, and the values we hold close. This makes a huge difference to how the work gets done.

What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time there? Other accomplishments or “proud of’s”?

It feels like being asked to pick a favourite child, but I would say the launch of really impactful new programs like our Indigenous Teacher Education initiative, which works towards a Canada with 10,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis teachers; or Catapult Canada, which is supporting a thriving national ecosystem of incredible community based organizations working with marginalized youth. 

I’m also proud of the launch and scale up of our youth innovation and entrepreneurship program – Ingenious+. This is a program that’s equipping young changemakers with the financial resources, mentorship and ongoing supports to bring their problem-solving creations to life. I’m proud that the RHF has been able to give a permanent home to really critical programs like Forum for Young Canadians and the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. These programs are helping to build leadership skills across all ages and sectors of Canadian society, enhancing civic literacy, and creating spaces for Canadians from all backgrounds and political leanings to come together, share perspectives, and learn from each other. 

I’m also proud of our recent work to support local media across Canada, in partnership with the Michener Awards. Reinforcing local news is critical at a time when access to trusted, factual information in communities is on the decline. Canadians need trusted local news sources to better engage with their communities and to lead. 

While these programs represent a range of different examples, they are antidotes to polarization, fragmentation and pessimism. And yes, we do a lot of things! But at the end of the day, it’s about igniting and empowering Canadian ambition, for the better. 

What’s Next for the Rideau Hall Foundation? What do you want people to know about the work of the Rideau Hall Foundation?

The breadth of work is significant, but it’s the roll up of our “why” that I want people to really understand in 2026 and beyond. No matter what door you enter the RHF, you’re connecting with a common purpose about igniting Canadian ambition. Our mission has always been, Canada. And now we’re focussing on Canadians. In the year ahead, we want to connect the thousands of Canadians who are already believers in the enormous potential of this country. Our goal is to offer them new opportunities to continue their journey with us, whether that’s by acting as an ambassador, volunteering for one of our programs, or supporting a different aspect of the RHF’s work. Ultimately, we are focused on helping people fully explore what it means to be part of the RHF community and to find new and creative ways to problem solve, learn, and lead.

One piece of career advice you’d give to others?

Can I sneak in 3 pieces? (1) Stay curious about the world around you and be open to the unexpected. I could not have predicted where my career would take me, but I’ve always stayed open to new possibilities even when the outcome wasn’t clear or certain. It’s led me down the most interesting and rewarding journey. (2) Believe in your own instincts while you’re developing your professional skillset. Recognizing that my intuition matters and can be trusted has been a gamechanger in my own decision making. Not the only factor, but one not to be ignored. I didn’t realize this 20 years ago. (3) Find the great people you want to learn from. Mentorship can take many forms and doesn’t have to be formalized to have a major impact – I still find that having a trusting small network of people across all ages and sectors that I can turn to for advice, guidance or an informal chat can be so useful. And what a privilege to be able to show up for others that way too.