Dr Jean Clinton is a Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster, division of Child Psychiatry. She is on staff at McMaster Children’s Hospital with cross appointments in Pediatrics and Family Medicine, and an Associate in the Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Toronto and Sick Children’s Hospital. She is also a senior scientist at the INCH (INfant Child Health) Lab at McMaster University. IN addition she is a Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy. She has been a consultant to children and youth mental health programs, child welfare, and primary care for almost 30 years. Dr Clinton was recently appointed as an education advisor to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Education.
Dr Clinton is renowned locally, provincially, nationally, and more recently internationally as an advocate for children’s issues. Her special interest lies in brain development, and the crucial role relationships and connectedness play therein. Jean champions the development of a national, comprehensive child well-being strategy including a system of early learning and care for all young children and their families. She is equally committed to ensuring that children’s and youths’ needs and voices are heard and respected.
Dr. Matt Balcarras is a neuroscientist with publications on learning and decision making in leading scientific journals. He specializes in building computational models and analyzing large datasets in order to predict decisions, identify preferences, and find valuable insights into human behavior. He joined Starling in May of 2017 as Director of Data Science and Analytics to lead their development of an AI-guided CBT program. Matt is passionate about using data to provide clients and program community members with an optimal CBT experience and insights into their personal mental health.
Louis Barrière est gestionnaire en santé et sécurité du travail à la direction des ressources humaines du CECCE. Il oeuvre en santé, sécurité et mieux-être au travail depuis 2001. Il détient plus de 13 années d’expérience dans le milieu de l’éducation et 21 année dans le réseau de la santé dont 10 ans en santé mentale.
Ann-Michelle McNulty, MSS, TSI détient une maîtrise en service social de l’Université d’Ottawa. A oeuvré comme travailleuse sociale en milieu scolaire pendant plus de 15 ans. Occupe le rôle de Leader en santé mentale au Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est depuis janvier 2016.
Ronald Gamblin focuses his efforts on three subject areas: mental wellness, youth engagement/political literacy and Indigenous empowerment. As the Male Manitoba Representative for the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council, Ron has been able to work alongside politicians from all walks of life to ensure a better tomorrow for Indigenous youth.
Riley Yesno (she/her/hers) is a professional researcher, writer, and public speaker with expertise in Indigenous and youth affairs and climate justice. She is Anishinaabe from Eabametoong First Nation and currently calls St. John’s, Nfld., home.
Riley Yesno (elle/la) est chercheuse de profession, écrivaine et conférencière. Elle se spécialise dans les questions autochtones et de la jeunesse, ainsi que dans la justice climatique. Anishnabée de la Première Nation Eabametoong, elle vit présentement à St. John’s, Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador.
Steve Bissonnette, Ph. D. est professeur titulaire au Département Éducation de l’Université TELUQ. Il s’intéresse aux travaux portant sur l’efficacité de l’enseignement et des écoles, à la gestion efficace des comportements ainsi qu’aux approches pédagogiques favorisant la réussite des élèves en difficulté. Monsieur Bissonnette est le premier chercheur canadien dont les travaux portent spécifiquement sur l’implantation du système le Soutien au Comportement Positif (SCP) ou Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) dans les écoles francophones canadiennes.
Patrick Case, LSM, LL.B., LL.M. is the Assistant Deputy Minister, Educational Equity Secretariat in the Ministry of Education. He is an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and director of the Osgoode Hall Law School Certificate Program in Human Rights Theory and Practice.
Patrick Case, LSM, LL.B., LL.M., est sous-ministre adjoint, Secrétariat à l’équité en éducation, au ministère de l’Éducation de l’Ontario. Il est également professeur adjoint à l’Osgoode Hall Law School où il dirige en outre le programme de certificat en théorie et pratique des droits de la personne.
Denise Dwyer, LL.B., M.Ed. is Assistant Deputy Minister, Indigenous Education and Well-Being in the Ministry of Education. Her career began as an Assistant Crown Attorney. She sees her current work promoting equity of opportunity, safe and healthy schools and enhancing well-being for students as the antidote to youth justice issues.
Denise Dwyer, LL.B., M.Ed., a d’abord été procureure adjointe de la Couronne et est maintenant sous-ministre adjointe, Division de l’éducation autochtone et du bien-être au ministère de l’Éducation de l’Ontario. Elle considère la promotion de perspectives égales, de la sécurité et de la salubrité des écoles et du mieux-être de tous les élèves comme l’antidote des problèmes qui mènent les jeunes devant les tribunaux.
Melissa Riley est une enseignante en affectation spéciale oeuvrant dans l’équipe du profil de sortie de l’élève, de la transformation de l’expérience d’apprentissage et du 21e siècle au CECCE depuis 2 ans. Elle appuie les leads du profil de sortie de l’élève, des enseignants désignés dans chacune des 54 écoles, dans la transformation de l’expérience d’apprentissage afin d’améliorer leur bien-être. Elle forme également les enseignants dans les nouveautés pédagogiques telles que la pensée critique, la citoyenneté numérique et l’apprentissage hybride.
Cat Criger has been working as a Traditional Teacher and Healer for more than 20 years in the Native and multi-cultural community in Canada, the U.S., England, Germany, Poland, and Wales. He was taught in the old way, working for many years with the guidance of an Aniishnawbe Elder (Zaawawagaabo) and other First Nations Elders, and was taught to do traditional ceremonies, teachings, circles, one to one work and to help all people to ‘walk in a good way’ through life. Cat holds the position of Traditional Elder for several campuses and faculties of the University of Toronto and with the Peel Aboriginal Network. He was also a recent recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for his work in the community speaking to diversity, equity, respect for women, anti-racism and anti-oppression.
Kathleen Qu, M.Sc., manages the information architecture, quality assurance, business intelligence, and user engagement for FeelingBetterNow®. She completed her Master in Global Health at McMaster University and has experience in evaluating health policies and implementation strategies. As a long-time health advocate, she participated in building mental health support networks, and evaluating knowledge translation systems within the Canadian Healthcare sector.
Katina Pollock, Ph. D., est professeure agrégée de leadership et de politique éducatifs dans le domaine des études critiques de politique, d’équité et de leadership à la Faculté d’éducation de l’Université Western.
Dr. Katina Pollock is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy in the field of Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies at the Faculty of Education, Western University. The overall goal of Dr. Pollock’s research agenda is to support and improve public education systems; to this effect, her research focuses on supporting school leaders. Specifically, she concentrates on school leaders’ work intensification and well-being, policy development and implementation, and knowledge mobilization. Her research with colleagues has been supported by federal granting agencies, provincial governments, and professional associations. Her current SSHRC Insight Grants focus on secondary school principals’ work intensification (with Dr. Fei Wang) (2016–2023), and the relationship between policy and principals’ work, (with Dr. Laura Pinto and Dr. Sue Winton) (2015–2023). In addition to traditional scholarship, she has also taken on several leadership roles, such as Co-Director of the UCEA Centre for International Study of School Leadership (2011–2014), Director of the Western Centre for Education Leadership (2014–2018), and Co-Director of the Knowledge Network for Applied Education Research (KNAER) (2011–2018).
Vani is a dedicated and experienced leader with a passion for systems change. Throughout her roles in medical education, mental health, corporate social responsibility, and philanthropy, the key thread in Vani’s career is a true passion for meaningful, long-lasting social impact. She loves to explore and understand vital social issues with the goal of uncovering new solutions and leverage points for change. A matchmaker at heart, Vani enjoys bringing diverse stakeholders together to achieve common goals.
Vani is currently the founding Executive Director of the Daymark Foundation, a new foundation established by the Michael McCain family to have a transformative impact on mental health. Prior to this, Vani was a Program Director at the McConnell Foundation, where she led the Foundation’s wellbeing and K-12 education portfolios. She has previously held roles in communications, public policy, government relations, and program development.
Vani’s greatest growth and learning come from raising her two young boys.
Dr. Andrew Miki is a registered psychologist who specializes in neuropsychology and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). With support from the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, Andrew launched Starling Minds, an online educational program for teachers based on CBT. Starling now has thousands of users across Canada and the UK that are learning how to increase their mental fitness. Andrew’s passion is to use education to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Dr. Kathy Short is a Clinical Child Psychologist with research and practice interests that focus primarily on school mental health promotion, knowledge mobilization and implementation science. Before becoming director of School Mental Health ASSIST, she spent 12 years as the Manager for the Evidence-Based Education and Services Team (E-BEST) at Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. Kathy is Chair for the Mental Health Promotion, Prevention, and Early Intervention Work Group for Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Leadership Advisory Council.
Nancy Janelle is the Principal of the first Big Picture Learning school to open in Canada. With a passion for social justice, human rights, and sustainability, she taught EAL in Korea, Nepal, and Guatemala before coming to the Seven Oaks Met School in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Nancy started as an advisor in the school when it opened eight years ago and transitioned to the role of Principal two years ago.
Sheldon Franken is a school counsellor with the Vancouver School Board, Director/Facilitator of Inquiry Adventures and member of the Association of Experiential Education North West Regional Council. Sheldon has presented workshops on active and experiential based social-emotional learning to numerous educational and mental health organizations across North America.
Meghan Loewen Cook is the Director of Wayfinders Manitoba, a community-based, after-school mentorship and tutoring program based in the Seven Oaks School Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As one of the founding staff members of Wayfinders Manitoba, she has been supporting the growth and development of the program for the past nine years and transitioned to the role of Director in 2015. Meghan is passionately committed to community-based youth work in her work and volunteer life and believes in the power of mentorship and relationship as being a key component in supporting vulnerable youth to finding success and promise in their lives.
Dr. Sagar Parikh is the author/editor of two books and over 130 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and co-author of CANMAT treatment guidelines for Depression and for Bipolar Disorder, the world’s most cited mood disorder guidelines. He holds research grants from multiple funding agencies, covering studies in clinical treatments in mood disorders, health services research, genetics, epidemiology, and educational research. He has conducted clinical trials looking at the combination of medication and psychotherapy for bipolar disorder and for depression, as well as pharmacotherapy trials in mood disorders. As medical director of Mensante, he helped create a novel Internet system for recognition and management of mental disorders.