In 2003, RNFOO awarded an honourary life membership to Susanne (Sue) Williams. In the 1990s, Sue was instrumental in leading the revitalization of RNFOO thus ensuring its success today. Throughout her career, Sue has worked tirelessly to promote nurses, nursing education and the nursing profession. Sue was presented with this award at the Gala. She joined Laura Barr as the second honourary life member of the Foundation.

Sue retired from Ryerson University in 2007 after a 33 year career engaged in teaching, research and academic leadership.

Among other positions Sue served 10 years as Director of the School of Nursing and most recently a 5 year term as Dean of Faculty of Community Services. Among her many and varied responsibilities at Ryerson, Sue chaired the 2006 President’s Commission on Student Engagement and Experience, was involved in establishing the Research Ethics Board and served on that board until her retirement.

Sue has made significant contributions to the larger community through her dedicated service to the nursing profession. In addition to being a past president of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, and a former Ontario representative to the Board of the Canadian Nurses’ Association, Sue is a former chair of the Registered Nurses’ Foundation of Ontario, chair of the Council of University Programs of Nursing, and co-chair of the Provincial Steering Committee on the Future of Nursing Education.

Sue joined the WCH Board in 2001, and served for 11 years in a variety of positions including Chair of the Quality Academic committee and as a member of the Capital Redevelopment and Executive committees. She served as Vice Chair of the Board from 2010 -2012. Sue currently volunteers as Co- Chair of the board of the Wellesley Institute and is the immediate past Chair the Board of the Saint Elizabeth Health Care Foundation. In addition to her Ryerson role she has held Associate Professor status and was a research associate with the Nursing Health Services Research Unit at the University of Toronto’s Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.