Karen Takacs Award

Recognizing Feminist Advocacy and Collaborative Leadership in Global Cooperation

The Karen Takacs Award is presented by Cooperation Canada to an individual who has notably and consistently advocated for the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people. The award honours outstanding collaborative leadership and commitment to gender equality.

About Karen Takacs

Karen Takacs was a celebrated and cherished leader of the Canadian international community. For over 20 years, Karen worked tirelessly to improve the lives and advance the rights of women and girls locally, nationally, and internationally. Karen was a catalyst for collaboration in the Canadian international sector.

Throughout her life, Karen was admired for motivating and bringing people together around a common cause. By way of encouragement, generosity, and humour, Karen led by mobilizing and supporting others. Following Karen’s passing in 2015, Cooperation Canada created an award to honour her invaluable contribution to the fight for social and economic justice, and to celebrate the unique collaborative leadership she demonstrated throughout her career, including her time as Chair of the Board of Cooperation Canada.

For the Canadian global development community, The Karen Takacs Award is a symbol of feminism, collaboration, advocacy, mentorship and resilience.

Nomination Process

We invite nominations from individuals across Canada’s international cooperation community.

Criteria for Selection
In order to be considered for the award, a nominee must:

Identify as a feminist

Be peer-nominated

Be Canadian or residing in Canada

Be a leader contributing to shifting power and finding new ways of working collaboratively with an intersectional lens, particularly in the current context of deepening inequity.
Expectations for Award Winner
Attendance, either in person or by video, at Cooperation Canada’s International Development Week event

Serve on The Karen Takacs Award committee for 1 year, following the receipt of the award

The winner will be invited to host a leadership relevant workshop within the year the award is presented
Nomination Procedures
Nominations are received through completion of a form, with options for written or audio/visual submissions. The committee will review nominations that include:

Two nominators (peers)

Ready to submit a nomination?

The nominee’s short biography

Detailed examples and quotes demonstrating the nominee’s advocacy for gender equality and collaborative leadership. Nomination packages should give examples of the following:

Evidence of how the nominee has challenged inequitable power structures and contributed to meaningful, lasting change

Evidence of how the nominee has made a difference by working collaboratively

Evidence of how the nominee has challenged power structures to combat inequity and protect civic space

Evidence of how the nominee has influenced or inspired peers and movements

Deadline for submission is Friday, November 27, 2026.

Nominations may also include links to websites, articles, testimonials, or other documentation that demonstrate the nominee’s leadership, advocacy, and contributions to advancing gender equality and gender justice.

Ready to submit a nomination?

Deadline for submission is Friday, November 27, 2026.

Passed Recipients

Frédérique Chabot

2025

Frédérique “Fred” Chabot advanced sexual and reproductive health and rights through more than two decades of feminist advocacy. As Executive Director of Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, they expanded access to abortion care, amplified marginalized voices and built coalitions connecting reproductive rights with migrant justice and trans and queer rights.

Katrina Leclerc

2024

Katrina Leclerc advanced women’s rights and youth participation through feminist, inclusive peacebuilding. She helped shape Canada’s Women, Peace and Security commitments, amplified youth voices in global policy and supported national action plans worldwide, strengthening opportunities for women and young people to influence decisions affecting peace and security.

Odette McCarthy

2023

Odette McCarthy championed human rights and gender equality as Executive Director of Equitas. Through feminist advocacy, collaborative leadership and sustained support for human rights initiatives, she helped advance equality and the rights of women globally.

Catherine Liao

2023

Catherine Liao advanced women’s rights through her work in global health and social justice as Director at ReSurge Africa. Her feminist advocacy and collaborative leadership reflected a commitment to addressing inequalities and improving women’s lives through international cooperation.

2021

Rita Morbia

Rita Morbia embodied collaborative feminist leadership through her work at Inter Pares. She supported women-led movements, reproductive justice and Indigenous self-determination, while helping shape Canada’s commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Grounded in solidarity and shared power, her approach strengthened grassroots leadership and challenged colonial models of international cooperation.