Pedro Barata named new president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity

TORONTO — Pedro Barata will be taking over the role of president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada, the national board recently announced.

Barata, who will take over the role June 24, has over two decades of experience with non-profit organizations and has worked in senior roles in both well-established and start-up organizations to drive innovation and policy change on a range of issues, including skills and training, affordable housing and homelessness, income security, urban planning and economic development.

He is currently executive director of the Future Skills Centre, where he led the start-up of the national research impact centre and has launched more than 200 innovation pilots in every region and sector in Canada, indicates a release.

He was previously SVP strategy and public affairs at United Way Greater Toronto, where he oversaw $94 million in annual community investment and led multiple advocacy campaigns nationally and provincially.

Barata will replace Julia Deans who announced her resignation in the fall of 2023.

“Pedro has dedicated his entire career to driving systemic long-term improvement on key social and economic initiatives, including poverty reduction and housing policy reform,” said Riccardo Trecroce, chair of Habitat Canada’s National Board of Directors, in a statement. “His ability to engage diverse groups and lead cross-sectoral collaborations to benefit communities in need makes him ideally suited to lead the federation as Habitat for Humanity Canada plays its part in addressing the housing crisis.”