The Honourable Steve Crocker, Government House Leader, today introduced a resolution in the House of Assembly to name Susan Walsh as the new Seniors Advocate.
Susan Walsh began her career with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1991, progressing to her most recent senior executive role as Deputy Minister of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development. She holds a Master of Social Work degree and is a registered social worker with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers. A complete bio for Ms. Walsh can be found in the backgrounder below.
The Office of the Seniors Advocate was created in 2016 with the first Advocate being appointed in November 2017. The Office is an independent office of the House of Assembly that has authority to identify, review and analyze systemic issues related to seniors and make recommendations respecting changes to improve seniors’ services.
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Quotes
“We are fortunate to have someone with the experience and qualifications of Susan Walsh to nominate for the role of Seniors’ Advocate. Her intimate knowledge of the issues and challenges that seniors experience combined with her unique perspective on how government operates will be assets in her new role. She will be a strong voice for seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Government House Leader
“I congratulate Susan Walsh on this nomination for the role of Seniors’ Advocate. As the Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, I have been fortunate to work closely with her as we carry out the mandate of the department. Ms. Walsh is well suited for this role and I am confident she will serve the people of the province well.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
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Media Contacts
Adrienne Luther
Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
709-729-4819, 730-2953
adrienneluther@gov.nl.ca
Khadija Rehma
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 730-2977
khadijarehma@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Biography for Susan Walsh
Susan Walsh began her career in 1991 as a social worker in mental health services at the Waterford Hospital working with seniors, people with disabilities and the community. She progressed through frontline management, policy analysis, program development, project management, director/senior management and executive positions.
Ms. Walsh held these progressive leadership roles within the former Department of Social Services; Eastern Regional Health Authority; Department of Health and Community Services; former Department of Child, Youth and Family Services; Cabinet Secretariat; Core Mandate Office of Executive Council; the Labour Relations Agency; Municipal Affairs Fire and Emergency Services; and currently as the Deputy Minister of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development since January of 2019.
She has held firm to her social work roots and the importance of community and is a registered social worker with the College of Social Workers in the province.
Ms. Walsh holds a Master of Social Work degree, specializing in policy and administration, from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Memorial University.
She is married and has two young adult children who are completing post-secondary studies.