The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, OC, is the longest-serving Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2014-2023). She carried out thousands of constitutional and ceremonial duties and encouraged Ontarians to think deeply about their role as residents of a province and as global citizens. She became known as Ontario’s “Storyteller-in-Chief”. Building a resilient and sustainable society was the focus of her mandate. Safeguarding democracy was her passion. 

Currently Ms. Dowdeswell serves on the Boards of the University Health Network, The Aga Khan Museum, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Rideau Hall Foundation, The King’s Trust Canada and the Samara Centre for Democracy. She provides advisory services to CIFAR, the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Canadian International Council and is patron to several initiatives including the Council of the Great Lakes Region. 

Ms. Dowdeswell’s eclectic public service career has spanned provincial, federal and international borders and transcended disciplinary lines, engaging the public in complex issues of social significance. She contributed globally as Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. She was the founding president and CEO of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, and later the President and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies. Government experience included terms as Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment Canada, responsible for the national weather and atmospheric agency and Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth for the Province of Saskatchewan. She has served on the boards of Canadian and international corporate and non-profit organizations. 

Ms. Dowdeswell is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario and is the recipient of numerous distinctions and fellowships. She holds 11 honorary doctorates. She holds a Master of Science degree in behavioral sciences from Utah State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and a teaching certificate from the University of Saskatchewan.