From the engineering division of the NWDR (North-West German Broadcast, Hamburg, Germany), Walter W. Zessner went to TV Engineering of the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) in Toronto, 1954-1965, and later accepted a teaching position at George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology (1965-1990).   With concurrent interest in the social studies, he attained a M.Ed. degree from OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto).   Although retired from teaching of technological subjects and responsibilities for formatting curricula, Professor Zessner continued to participate and also to organize interdisciplinary conferences, routinely presenting research papers.

He founded the IEEE Toronto Chapter of the SSIT (Society on Social Implications of Technology) in 1989, which provided the means to present relevant contributions on socio-technological issues to engineering professionals.   This basic subject focus has been adhered to after the formation of the broader based IEEE Toronto Joint Chapter of ENGINEERING and HUMAN ENVIRONMENT (September 1993, comprising the societies of Engineering Management, Education, Professional Communication, Reliability, and the SSIT).   The impact of rapid technological developments on society, frequently underestimated, becomes increasingly more central to all branches of engineering, being much in need of a wider understanding and analysis.

Walter retired as chair on October 16, 2004 at the Annual General Meeting and Awards Dinner of the IEEE Toronto Section.   He received several awards to recognize his pioneering work.   The SSIT lifetime achievement award was presented by Brian O'Connell, the current SSIT President.   A commorative plaque from IEEE Toronto Section Chair Kostas Plataniotis which reads "IEEE Toronto Section honours Walter W. Zessner as the Founding Chair of the Social Implications of Technology Chapter in 1989, and designates him as Chapter Chair Emeritus of the Engineering and Human Environment Chapter".