Dawn Peta, BN, RN, ENC(C), of Canada

Dawn Peta’s advocacy and commitment to global collaboration reflect her deep passion for empowering nurses through policy, education and knowledge sharing. Her expertise in health policy has driven change both nationally and internationally. With a profound understanding of front-line nursing challenges, she identified critical gaps in education access for rural nurses and successfully advocated for permanent provincial funding for virtual educators in Alberta. Her innovative approach to domestic violence screening led to increased identification and support for survivors.

Additionally, she created an inclusive, simulation-based emergency care education program that effectively addressed low compliance with patient care guidelines among rural providers. During her term as president of the National Emergency Nurses Association in Canada, she spearheaded policy change and, inspired by attending ENA’s Day on the Hill, an Advocacy Day at Parliament. The work was documented as a model for international engagement in the Journal of Emergency Nursing. A staunch advocate for international inclusivity within ENA, Peta introduced resolutions before the ENA General Assembly that called for recognition of international certifications. She has also been recognized for leading an international writing team for a global triage assessment standard.