Suzy McDonald is currently head of school at Stanstead College, an independent boarding school for students in grades 7 to 12 located in Stanstead, Quebec. A proud alumna, Suzy attended Stanstead College on a full scholarship for grades 10 through 12 and is deeply grateful for the life-changing opportunity the school provided her. Returning to serve as head of school is especially meaningful, and she is committed to ensuring that every student has access to the same transformative educational experience.
Prior to assuming her current role, Suzy served as associate deputy minister at the Department of Finance Canada from September 2023 to August 2025, providing strategic advice on economic issues, fiscal policy, federal-provincial relations and tax policy. She previously held the position of associate deputy minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada beginning in October 2022, where she advanced key agricultural policy and sustainability initiatives. From 2018 to 2022, Suzy served in senior leadership roles at both the Department of Finance and the Treasury Board Secretariat, working on a wide range of social policy files, including the pandemic response, early learning and child care, employment insurance, Old Age Security, Indigenous issues, and federal-provincial relations.
Suzy began her public service career at Health Canada, where she held a variety of increasingly senior roles from 2002 to 2018. During this time, she addressed major public health challenges, including the opioid crisis, tobacco control, controlled substances policy, and workplace hazardous materials. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Carleton University.
