Elizabeth Murphy is a seasoned nonprofit leader and strategist with more than 25 years of experience in governance, fundraising, policy development, and organizational growth. Since 2013, she has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Nova Scotia SPCA, where she has led transformative change — growing the organization from 23 employees and a $1.4M budget to more than 200 employees and an $11M operation.

Under her leadership, the SPCA has expanded its reach and impact through the launch of three veterinary hospitals, multiple thrift stores, and Canada’s only non-profit College of Animal Welfare. Elizabeth has also championed innovative revenue strategies, building a philanthropic development team and creating sustainable income streams that generate more than $4M annually.

Her earlier career includes senior development roles with Easter Seals Nova Scotia, NIGEL Services for Adults with Disabilities, the PEI Humane Society, and the University of Northern British Columbia. Throughout these roles, Elizabeth honed her expertise in fundraising, donor relations, and board governance, consistently advancing organizational capacity and mission impact.

Elizabeth is known for her ability to bring people together around a shared vision, navigate complex governance challenges, and create practical strategies that deliver measurable results. With a career dedicated to strengthening organizations across health, education, and animal welfare sectors, she brings a wealth of insight to boards, leadership teams, and community-based initiatives.