Sue Gardner

Biography

Sue Gardner is a Canadian journalist and executive in both non-profit and business sectors. She was born on May 11, 1967, in Bridgetown and studied at Toronto Metropolitan University. She became a key figure in digital media and online knowledge sharing in the early 21st century. Gardner's career evolved from traditional journalism to digital media leadership, where she was instrumental in changing how information is accessed globally.

Her most notable role was as the executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation from December 2007 to May 2014. While there, she guided Wikipedia through a period of significant global growth, turning it into one of the most visited websites in the world. Under her leadership, the Foundation expanded greatly, helping Wikipedia become a vital resource available in many languages and cultures. Her management style emphasized free access to knowledge and building solid organizational foundations.

Before Wikimedia, Gardner was the director of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's website and online news outlets, gaining valuable experience in digital media and online content management. This background in traditional media gave her important insights for her later work in the non-profit digital world. Her success at CBC marked her as a leader who could bridge the gap between traditional journalism and new digital platforms.

After leaving Wikimedia in 2014, Gardner continued to be involved in media and technology organizations. In 2013, she joined the board of Global Voices, and in 2015, she helped the Tor Project with their long-term strategy. She became the executive director of The Markup in 2018, underscoring her ongoing commitment to media innovation, though she left this role in May 2019. Most recently, in November 2023, Gardner became chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, showing her continued dedication to maintaining information integrity and fighting harmful content online.