OTTAWA, Sept. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) announced the decision of CEO Rachel Bard to retire effective December 13, 2013. CNA will now begin an orderly leadership transition over the next three months. Bard's decision caps a remarkable 42-year career of service to the nursing profession.
"Rachel Bard has been a very strong, collaborative and engaged leader, managing the association through challenging times and transitions," said CNA President Barb Mildon. "Her formidable legacy includes overseeing CNA's landmark National Expert Commission and strengthening key partnerships with nursing, health and professional organizations, among others. The board is grateful for her many contributions and her distinguished tenure as CEO over the last five years."
"Thanks to CNA," Bard stated, "I have been privileged to serve the nursing profession at both national and international levels. My time with this organization, as president back in 1996, and now as CEO, has been a highlight of my career. I began as CEO just as CNA's centenary celebrations were concluding and, over the five years since, have navigated many changes in the professional, regulatory and practice areas. Managing a shifting landscape has had its challenges, but the result is an organization ready to take on the next hundred years. This time, the change I am managing is personal, and I am looking forward to the challenge."
Following a focused and appropriate succession review, CNA's board of directors is very pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Sutherland Boal to the position of CEO, starting on December 16, 2013.
"CNA is fortunate to have retained a nursing leader of Anne Sutherland Boal's calibre to take the helm of the organization at this time in its history," Mildon added. "She brings an established leadership track record of success in complex clinical practice, policy and administration roles, both in health care organizations and government. Her extensive experience, engagement with the nursing community, and deep commitment to CNA and the profession will provide exemplary leadership for CNA as we advance our vision: registered nurses contributing to the health of Canadians and the advancement of nursing."
Sutherland Boal holds a diploma in nursing (RN) from the Foothills Hospital (Calgary), a BA from Brock University (St. Catharines) and a master's in health services administration from the University of Alberta (Edmonton). Originally from Quebec, she has served in key senior administrative positions in tertiary health-care facilities in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. In addition, Sutherland Boal was chief nurse executive and assistant deputy minister in British Columbia's Ministry of Health. She also spent seven years working in China in the health and education fields. Since 2010, she has been CNA's chief operating officer.
"I am very pleased to take on the CEO role at CNA," said Sutherland Boal, "not only to build on the momentum generated by initiatives such as our contributions to the Council of the Federation and our National Expert Commission, but also to work with individual nurses and our member organizations across the country to advance and promote the contributions that nurses make every day to the health of all Canadians."
CNA is the national professional voice of registered nurses in Canada. A federation of 11 provincial and territorial nursing associations and colleges representing nearly 150,000 registered nurses, CNA advances the practice and profession of nursing to improve health outcomes and strengthen Canada's publicly funded, not-for-profit health system.
SOURCE: CANADIAN NURSES ASSOCIATION
Kate Headley, External Communications Coordinator
Canadian Nurses Association
Telephone: 613-237-2159, ext. 561
Cell: 613-697-7507
E-mail: [email protected]
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