Sarah Willey-Thomas

Sarah Willey-Thomas was appointed University Secretary effective May 12, 2025.

Sarah is a strategic governance professional with experience in post-secondary, non-profit and corporate governance environments. She has served in progressively senior governance roles since 2013. Most recently, she held the position of associate university secretary at the University of Waterloo where she supported the Board of Governors and its standing committees. Previously she has served as an associate university secretary to the Senate and its committees at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Guelph.

Currently she is Chair of the Council of Ontario University Secretaries (COUS) and a member of the Governance Professionals of Canada, the Institute of Corporate Directors and the Association of Governing Boards. She also contributes to the Canadian University Boards Association as a member of its conference planning committee.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Contemporary studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master’s of International Public Policy from Wilfrid Laurier University and the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She earned her Governance Professionals of Canada designation in 2021 and is expected to complete the Association of Governing Boards’ Board Professional Certificate in 2025.

Sarah also served on several non-profit boards, including the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, RisingOaks Early Learning Ontario (board Chair, 2020-21), Child and Family Services of Grand Erie Foundation and Braemar House School. Her dedication was recognized with the Chairs’ Circle of Excellence Award for her service on the RisingOaks Early Learning Board.