The Chair of the ERC is Ms Catherine Ebbs. Ms Ebbs was first appointed Chair of the ERC on a full-time basis on November 1, 2005 for a three-year term. She was re-appointed for another three years, effective November 1, 2008.

Catherine Ebbs is a fully bilingual lawyer, member of the Bar of Saskatchewan since 1984. Until 1989, she was in private practice in Saskatchewan, and specialized in civil and criminal (both Crown and defence) litigation. From 1989 to 2003, Ms Ebbs was a full-time decision-maker with the National Parole Board of Canada (NPB), and was the head in charge of the NPB's Appeal Division from 1993 to 2003.

Prior to being appointed Chair, Ms Ebbs served the ERC as Legal Counsel and Executive Director and Senior Counsel. She is a graduate of Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, and in 2004, obtained her Master of Laws degree with a specialization in Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. In addition to her duties as Chair, Ms Ebbs is a course Director for the federal Tribunal Member Training Program. She is also active in the community of Heads of Federal Agencies, and is presently Chair of the Heads of Federal Administrative Tribunals Forum.