Sepelene Deonarine has been an active member of RNAO for 30+ years and is one of the founding members of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), International Nurses Interest Group (INIG) and is proud to be a sustaining member since its inception. She is a Chapter member of Durham and its Policy and Political ENO (2018–2021), Past Membership ENO INIG for four years, Policy and Political ENO INIG (2019–2023); present member of the Diabetes Nurses Interest Group (DNIG) and INIG, and past member of the Provincial Nurses Educator, the Maternal and Child and the Community Health – Nurses Interest Groups; member of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Diabetes Canada (DC); DC Outreach Education, Regional Representative and Advocate (2013 to present).
Sepelene has been employed in a variety of settings: hospitals, community, government ministries and academia. She gained a vast amount of experience and expertise in clinical, leadership and administration as Manager and Education Coordinator for Maternal and Child Programs, and educator in the community and academia, staff nurse and Master Trainer in a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. Presently she works in the Durham Region Immunization Program. She is very community oriented: Chair of Ajax Accessibility Advisory Committee, Board Vice Chair of Ajax Libraries, Member of the Age Friendly Committee of Ajax, Member of the Community Advisory Panel to the Board of the Lakeridge Group Hospitals, Confirmation Catechist for grade 7/8 for St Francis De Sales Parish. She is the recipient of a few community awards of distinction: Ontario Volunteer Service Award 2021, Town of Ajax: Community Award 2020, Education Award 2018 and Health and Social Services Award 2017, Prestigious Town of Ajax Civic Award 2016. She received the RNAO Policy and Political Award of Excellence in 2020, Meredith Award Ministry of Labour in 2019 and Diabetes Canada Regional Volunteer of the Year Award for Ontario in 2017.