Elsa Da Costa

Elsa Da Costa is an experienced professional in environmental reporting and sustainable development. She joined the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) in 2017 as a Director of Performance Audit and has since led several audits for the federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. She also serves as the OAG’s internal specialist in environment and sustainable development.

As director, Elsa oversees audits of federal government programs and policies. In this role, she assesses how effectively and efficiently public sector activities support environmental stewardship and sustainable development initiatives. Her work helps inform Parliament's understanding of government performance and accountability.

Before joining the OAG, Elsa worked as a consultant specializing in environment and international development. As an evaluator at Science-Metrix, she helped assess federal policies and activities, including analyzing research landscapes and developing indicators to inform policy decisions. Her work as an environmental and evaluation consultant at Baastel strengthened her expertise in international development, where she provided technical assistance and monitoring and evaluation services for global development projects and programs delivered by international organizations.

Elsa Da Costa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environment and Development from McGill University and a Master of Science from l’Université de Montréal. She also completed the Osgoode Certificate in ESG, Climate Risk and the Law, and is currently pursuing a diploma in GHG accounting from the GHG Management Institute. Her career reflects her commitment to rigorous analysis, evidence-based assessment, and the advancement of sustainable practices.