Danielle S. Russell, CAE, C.Dir (she/her) is a Canadian Not-for-Profit Industry leader with over a dozen years of experience providing staff support and leadership to Associations and Charities serving a wide variety of sectors. She is currently the Executive Director of the Canadian Defence Lawyers, and has previously served as the Executive Director and COO of the Air Cadet League of Canada, Ontario. Danielle has also worked for two of Canada’s leading Association Management Companies.

In 2024 she was recognized by her peers with both the Community Leader Award and the Empowering Leader Award from CSAE; and was a finalist in the Industry Volunteer Category for the 2024 Hall of Fame presented by the Canadian Meetings and Events Expo (CMEE). Ms. Russell is a member of the Board of Directors of Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, and the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association, she also currently serves a the Chair of the City of Markham Race Relations Committee. 

Danielle is a speaker, consultant and author, and frequently contributes to Association industry magazines and blogs. She writes a popular weekly LinkedIn Newsletter ‘Tuesday Thoughts’ and is the author of two volumes of ‘The Tuesday Thoughts Companion: A Year of Small Actions for Big Impact’.

Ms. Russell holds a BA in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Chartered Director designation issued by the Directors College, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University. As a life-long learner she also holds a Recognition of Proficiency in French Conversation from Seneca College, a designation as a CAE (Certified Association Executive) and is a Certified Organizational Specialist.