Patrice Walch-Watson spent 20 years in the corporate practice at Torys, a major law firm based in Toronto, Canada. She said while at the firm, she had the opportunity to serve on the management committee and had a better understanding of corporate finances and human resources.

Walch-Watson was made senior managing director, general counsel and corporate secretary of the Toronto-based Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. She leads a legal team of 38 employees in Canada, Brazil, the U.S., India, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.