Board of directors

Executive Director, Stonehenge Therapeutic Community

Kristin Kerr is a registered social worker and an experienced leader with over 15 years working within the mental health and addictions sectors with people of all ages. As the Executive Director at Stonehenge Therapeutic Community, Kristin strives to create communities where people living with substance use are welcomed, supported, and thriving. She embraces the opportunity to drive health system change forward and bring health equity to vulnerable populations across her community. Kristin believes that organizational health drives the quality of care provided to clients and she takes pride in developing strong organizational culture and staff engagement. Outside of her work life, Kristin enjoys spending time with her two daughters and their new puppy, and spending time outside in nature whenever possible.

Executive Director, Addiction Services Central Ontario

Penny Marrett, Executive Director of Addiction Services Central Ontario, has been in the not-for-profit sector for nearly 40 years. Since joining in 2014, the agency has grown by leaps and bounds and is now one of the largest community health service providers of addiction services in Ontario. In 2017, Addiction Services Central Ontario was chosen to be the lead agency for addictions for York Region, North York and South Simcoe.

Penny’s career has spanned 38 years; all of it in the not-for-profit sector. She has held a number of leadership positions in the voluntary sector and is a strong believer in the importance of the role that the not-for-profit sector can play in responding to community needs and public policy development.

Over the years, Penny has also been an active volunteer. Her volunteer experience includes the Canadian Soccer Association, the Windsor Family Health Team, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Trillium Chapter of the Canadian Society of Association Executive and the Distress Centres of the Toronto, among others.

Executive Director, Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre

Mike Beauchesne is the Executive Director of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre in Ottawa. He has been with the DSYTC for more than two decades and has worked in various clinical and leadership capacities during his tenure, including: Addiction Therapist, Clinical Coordinator and Executive VP – Clinical Services. A strong proponent of evidence-based practices and the personal and professional development of self and others, Mike enjoys working with a local, regional, provincial and national focus to help improve the lives of those who are impacted by mental health and addiction issues. In addition to his role with AMHO, Mike advises and participates on various committees, including the Kids Come First Ontario Health Team (OHT) where he is a member of the Steering Committee and is Co-Chair of the Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health working group.

Mike possesses an Honours degree in Psychology from Carleton University, an M.Ed. (Counselling) from the University of Ottawa and an MBA from Carleton’s Sprott School of Business. Mike is also a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

CEO, Thunder Bay Counselling

Nancy Chamberlain is the CEO of Thunder Bay Counselling since 1991 with oversight for a budget of 4.3M and 29 unique services. Thunder Bay Counselling is a community based, accredited mental health and addiction agency with a broad range of program areas including counselling & psychotherapy; addiction & mental health; victim services, child & youth services; financial empowerment and family & employee assistance programs. Nancy has extensive experience in organizational leadership, governance, policy development and strategic planning. She has held numerous governance leadership roles with community, provincial and national boards for non-profit organizations such as Family Service Ontario, the Canadian Centre for Accreditation, Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. Nancy is co-chair of the Thunder Bay District Mental Health and Addiction Network, Chair of the Thunder Bay and District Violence Against Women Local Service Panning Table and an active participant in community system planning initiatives involving mental health across the life span. Nancy received a Victim Services Award of Distinction in 2013 and the Queen’s Jubilee Award in 2002.

Peer Integration and Systems Lead, Support House’s Centre for Innovation in Peer Support

Alyssa is a passionate and dedicated system leader and advocate, who has used her lived experiences, education and professional experiences to create change in the healthcare and social service sectors. Alyssa has a degree in psychology and 15 years of experience in peer support. She has managed and coordinated peer programs focusing on youth empowerment, mental health, and harm reduction. She has also chaired and co-chaired many local committees and working groups.

Chief Executive Officer of the Wayside House of Hamilton

Regan Anderson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Wayside House of Hamilton for the past 22 years. Wayside House is a 60-bed integrated residential addiction and supportive housing program in Hamilton.

Primary focus is the treatment of addiction and concurrent disorders for men and transitional aged male youth. Regan is the program lead for the Hamilton Hepatitis C harm reduction outreach and treatment team with the AIDS and Hepatitis C Secretariat of Ontario.

Regan holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s degree in Applied Clinical Psychology. Regan began his clinical career in Stamford, Connecticut working in both residential and outpatient’s settings.

This included treatment of alcohol, drugs and work with methadone. Regan was director of Hamilton Men’s Withdrawal Management Centre with Hamilton Health Sciences for several years prior to joining Wayside House.

Regan is the co-chair of the Adult Mental Health and Addiction Secretariat of the Greater Hamilton Health Network (Ontario Health Team), co-chair of the Hamilton Drug Strategy Treatment Pillar and member of the Addiction and Mental Health Association advisory to the Ontario Centre of Excellence. Regan also chairs the provincial Residential Community of Practice with Addictions and Mental Health Ontario and chairs the Concurrent Disorders Advisory of Mohawk College. Regan is the recipient of the 2017 Individual Champion, Minister’s Medal, recognizing excellence in quality and safety.

Regan is a strong proponent of client choice and flexibility of care while recognizing the value of harm reduction.

Papa Ladjiké Diouf is a psychotherapist and a clinical supervisor coming from Senegal (West Africa) since 2014 and now a Canadian citizen. He studied psychology and sociology (two recognized masters in Canada) with certificates of specialization in various issues which basis is trauma. He has been working for 15 years as a psychotherapist including 7 years as a clinical supervisor and trainer/teacher. He has worked in several environments (Africa and Canada) and with different clients (men, women, adolescents, couple and family) on various issues (trauma, migration, depression, anxiety, sex workers, street children, addictions and concurrent disorders, etc.). Currently, he is interested in historical trauma, immigrant clients, ACB clients in its mental health challenges. He is the Clinical Director for Le CAP and co-leader of the Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition in Ottawa. He is a clinical supervisor and part-time teacher for Saint Paul University in Ottawa. He is the co-lead of the AMHO work on Equity, Diversity and inclusion around the province. Papa Ladjiké is a member of AMHO and CAPSA board of directors.

Executive Director, Ottawa Salus

Mark is a registered psychotherapist with 20 years of experience in the mental health and social services sector. Mark is known for his ability to envision a bold future and make it a reality through sound strategy development. As an integrative thinker, Mark keeps the client at the center. He is unwavering in his dedication to improving access to mental health and addiction supports in the region and further afield.

Executive Director, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services

Johanne Levesque is the Executive Director of Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, a communitybased treatment centre that offers prevention, education, group and individual treatment programs along a harm reduction continuum. Rideauwood serves individuals and their loved ones affected by substance use, addiction and mental health issues in Ottawa and the surrounding region.

Johanne’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families has served as a backdrop for her professional and volunteer activities for over thirty years. She began her professional career in nursing as an inpatient psychiatric nurse working with youth and families and has also worked in public health, community care and public administration. Her understanding of communities and approach to change leadership have been shaped by her experiences as a health care professional, a policy advisor, a manager in the federal public service and at the City of Ottawa and the co-founder of a successful of strategic management practice where she worked, for more than a decade, with organizations and progressive thinkers across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Johanne is also an active community volunteer and advocate, who has a long history of serving on boards of directors of major organizations that include the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (where she served 4 years as Board Chair), the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health (at CHEO) and the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa.

Johanne has successfully delivered on her diverse mandates, always with the same set of values – a systems thinker, focused on building compassionate, effective health care services that puts the needs and voices of clients and families at the centre and also actively engages them in their care and recovery. She is well known for her commitment to excellence, her ability to bring together diverse groups, connect genuinely with others and her passion for making a difference.

Johanne holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing Science from Ottawa University, a Master’s of Public Administration from Queen’s University and a CHE designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

CEO, Reconnect Community Health Service

Mohamed Badsha has worked in the community and health sectors in Toronto for over 20 years. He has extensive community engagement, partnership development and service planning experience in Health Services, Child and Youth Services, Social Services and Employment Services.

Mohamed is currently the CEO at Reconnect Community Health Service in Toronto. Reconnect is one of the largest community-based health services provider in the west end of Toronto. They offer extensive Mental Health and Substance Use Services, comprehensive services to seniors including home care delivery and caregiver supports. Reconnect also leads several system level improvement projects.

Mohamed is committed to the planning and delivery of high quality, responsive and innovative system and service level changes to individuals and communities. He believes that evidence-based planning is key to constant quality improvement and to ensure that services are accountable and transparent to all stakeholders across our system. His considerable knowledge of community needs from a data and service perspective has led to innovation and multi-sectoral collaboration as a key component of his work. Mohamed has led several organization integrations including four with Reconnect. Mohamed academic background spans Community Development, Strategic Non-Profit Management at Harvard Business School, and York University Schulich School.

CEO, Community Addictions and Mental Health Ontario Services of Haldimand, Brant, and Norfolk. Prior

Bill is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Community Addictions and Mental Health Ontario Services of Haldimand, Brant, and Norfolk. Prior to this, he was the Director of Mental Health and later the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Standards, and Practices, for nearly twenty years for a child and youth mental health agency. In both roles, Bill also served as the Agency’s Director of Research and Training. Bill has served on numerous boards for community and provincial organizations, including a Community Health Centre, a Children’s Treatment Centre, and the Ontario Association for Counselors, Consultants, Psychotherapists, and Psychometrists. For nearly 20 years, he has been a lecturer/instructor at Brock University in the departments of Psychology and Child and Youth Studies. He has two Masters’ degrees in psychology, along with a doctorate in Public Health Policy.

Executive Director, Somerset West Community Health Centre

Suzanne Obiorah is a dedicated advocate for health equity with extensive senior leadership experience in the health, social services and municipal government sectors. She co-founded the Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition, where she led the development of a regional mental health strategy to empower Black residents in accessing culturally responsive care. Suzanne’s commitment to expanding access to primary care is evident in her success in securing funding for nurse practitioners and healthcare providers focused on serving communities that experience marginalization.

She served as the Director of Gender and Race Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Relations, and Social Development for the City of Ottawa, overseeing the allocation of $30 million dollars funding to the social services sector and leading the development of the city’s first Anti-Racism Strategy. Suzanne’s unwavering dedication to upstream interventions, secured funding for community programming and infrastructure in priority neighborhoods, particularly benefiting racialized youth. She has actively influenced regional and provincial health system reform discussions and played a pivotal role in shaping responses to mental health crises through her participation in influential tables and forums in Ottawa.

Suzanne has Bachelors Degree in Applied Sciences from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Health Management from St. Mary’s University.  She brings not only her expertise but also her unwavering commitment to driving systemic and structural change.