Our People

Teri-Lynne Belanger brings a wealth of experience shaped by a diverse career across multiple sectors.  With over 15 years in sport at both the local and national levels, she honed her expertise in major events and project management, as well as in building strong partnerships across all levels of government.  Prior to this, she spent 10 years working in child welfare both in resources and as a facilitator travelling across Ontario delivering training to social workers and resource parents alike.  Her passion for helping others and her understanding of the importance of teamwork contribute to her core values that drive the work she does every day.  Partnership is a true give and take and bringing that into the business world is an important driver in the work she does.

Since joining Opening Minds in 2021, Teri-Lynne has contributed to the growth and development of our processes to increase efficiencies and better serve our clients and facilitators.  Always willing to think outside the box to come up with creative solutions to serve our clients’ needs while getting our facilitators excited about trying something new has been key to creating a dynamic environment.  At the heart of her work is relationship-building. Guided by her philosophy of partnership, open communication, and transparency, Teri-Lynne has cultivated trusting, enduring connections with our most valued partners – the facilitators who bring our programs to life.

Outside of work, Teri-Lynne continues to volunteer in the Ultimate community dedicating countless hours to the Ottawa Junior Competitive Ultimate Program.  In recognition of her longstanding leadership and impact, she is inducted into the Ottawa Carleton Ultimate Association Hall of Fame (2025) in the Builder category. Her continued commitment to youth sport is rooted in a belief that the connection between physical activity, community, and mental health plays a vital role in supporting young people’s well-being. .

As Manager of Brand, Marketing, and Communications at Opening Minds, Michelle brings equal parts head, heart, and soul to everything she does. With a deep-rooted passion for mental health and unapologetic advocacy for change, she helps shape not just how Opening Minds shows up in the world—but how the world experiences Opening Minds. 

Drawn to this work by both personal conviction and professional purpose, Michelle believes in meeting people where they are, building trust through empathy, and creating space for real, lasting impact. From developing messaging that drives action to ensuring every program and product speaks to real needs, she views her role as both a privilege and a responsibility. 

Whether crafting a national campaign or choosing the perfect word to tell a story, she never loses sight of the human side of the mission. Because at its core, this work is about hope—and Michelle believes that change isn’t just necessary, it’s possible. 

Outside of work, you’ll likely find her chasing forest trails, breathing in mountain air, and following her dog’s lead toward joy. Nature is her reset button—and her reminder that meaningful change starts from the inside out. 

At the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Lili-Anna applies her 30 years of global, national, and local experience to one of society’s most urgent priorities: reducing barriers to quality mental health care through evidence-informed policy change and collaborative system transformation. 

Lili-Anna’s life-long commitment to community service has taken her from classrooms in Malawi to finding transportation solutions to improve access to rural health facilities in Burkina Faso to the humanitarian frontlines in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These experiences shaped her understanding of the critical importance of human rights, which she later championed as Executive Director of Amnesty International France.  

Returning to Canada, she combined her international experience with home-grown approaches – guiding community agencies like the YWCA Montréal – before expanding her impact during an eight-year tenure at Centraide/United Way of Greater Montreal. It was through these years in particular where her engagement and interest in removing barriers to mental health services deepened. Most recently, as President and CEO of the McConnell Foundation, she directed philanthropic resources toward innovative, community-led solutions for Canada’s most pressing societal concerns. 

As a lifelong learner, Lili-Anna’s work with equity-seeking groups enriched her conviction that effective strategies arise from the lived experience of those closest to the context. 

Inspired by Indigenous teachings, Lili-Anna works to build relationships based on trust and advance sustainable change. Her contributions have been recognized with knighthood in the National Order of Quebec, an honorary doctorate from the University of Montreal, and as a Fellow of Engineers Canada, among other notable distinctions. 

Lili-Anna also earned an engineering degree from École Polytechnique de Montréal, before completing graduate studies in management at McGill University and political science at the Sorbonne University in Paris.  

Her belief in building community through volunteerism remains a driving force for Lili-Anna and she continues to serve on several boards and committees, including the board of the Roncalli International Foundation, and as a member of the National Executive Committee for The Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. Her past appointments include the board of Polytechnique Montréal, the Advisory Board of the Future Skills Centre of Canada, and the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments.  

Leanne brings over 20 years of national and international experience in stakeholder engagement and government relations to her role as Vice President, External Affairs and Development at the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). With a career that has spanned across diverse regions, from Cameroon to the Yukon, and from British Columbia to Ontario, Leanne has worked with a wide range of rights-based non-governmental organizations focused on women’s rights, environmental sustainability, and mental health care.

Leanne is a passionate advocate for social inclusion and thriving communities. Her career includes significant experience managing policy and research initiatives, as well as leading advocacy campaigns, with over a decade in federal, territorial, and municipal politics.

Prior to joining the MHCC, Leanne served as Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), where she led member and stakeholder engagement efforts, oversaw governance and supported strategic planning at the executive level. She also served as a senior member of FCM’s Policy and Public Affairs team for eight years.

In her current role as Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of the Health Policy Branch for Health Canada, Sarah provides expert level advice on complex health policy issues. She leads the development of effective health policies and strategies through consultation and engagement, and is responsible for addressing priority, emerging, and cross-cutting issues that impact the health of Canadians.

In her previous role as the ADM, Communications and Public Affairs Branch (2021-2025), she led innovative, evidence-based communications on complex health and public health issues, led risk and crisis communications responses to emerging issues, and delivered targeted health promotion initiatives, leveraging expertise in strategic communication, public education, marketing, advertising and partnerships and digital media to support improved health outcomes for everyone in Canada.

As the ADM, Consultations & Communications at Finance Canada (2019-2021) Sarah led cross-country Pre-Budget Consultations and was responsible for the delivery of the annual federal Budget and Economic Update. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the public communications in support of the Economic Response Plan – the most significant undertaking in the history of the Department of Finance.

She has previously held executive level positions in both international affairs and communications functions within the federal government. In 2018, she was included in the inaugural list of Canadian Women in Global Health for her work representing Canada on the global stage, including on issues of mental health.

Sarah holds a B.A. with Highest Honours in Journalism from Carleton University.

Evan Romanow was appointed Deputy Minister of Alberta’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction in June 2023. In this role he supports the Minister and is responsible for leading implementation of Alberta’s recovery-oriented system of care and coordinating all Government of Alberta resources dedicated to delivering mental health and addiction services across the province.

Since joining the Government of Alberta in 2011, he has served as an executive and senior leader in the ministries of: Health; Seniors & Housing; Executive Council; Innovation & Advanced Education; Human Services; and International & Intergovernmental Relations.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Alberta Health Services, and worked and volunteers in the non-profit and voluntary sector with multiple community organizations.

Evan has undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Political Sciences from the University of Alberta, and is bilingual in English and French.

Holly Graham is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan and a member of the Thunderchild First Nation. She has an extensive background in healthcare, working as a Registered Nurse and as a Registered Doctoral Psychologist. In her private practice as a psychologist, she works with individuals who have experienced trauma, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Her research primarily focuses on Indigenous health, mental health, and wellness. Holly was awarded an Indigenous Research Chair in Nursing, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), where she supported reconciliation in nursing through education, research, and practice. She is deeply involved in various initiatives, including land-based wellness camps for Indigenous youth and the creation of the first Indigenous Nursing Professional Practice Group in Saskatchewan. Dr. Graham has also been active in promoting anti-racist education and Indigenous-led health research, demonstrating a strong commitment to Indigenous communities and health equity.

Susannah Crabtree is the Senior Vice-President of People and Culture with EDC, a Canadian Crown Corporation. In this role she sits on EDC’s executive leadership team and oversees the full suite of human resources operations, programs, and HR strategy and advisory services.

Susannah has more than 20 years of experience leading and consulting in all aspects of human resources and talent management. Most recently, as a partner with Mercer she led the national compensation, communications, and talent strategy consulting practice for its Canadian operations. She specializes in executive and board succession planning; leadership assessment and development; board effectiveness; diversity, equity, and inclusion; total rewards and performance management; communications; and strategic risk management.

Susannah has a deep passion for mental health and has been exposed to its importance in Canadian society through all facets of her life, including her studies, volunteer work, professional career, and her lived experience. She has a profound interest in corporate governance and has achieved the ICD.D designation in 2021. Susannah is also a fully qualified actuary and has completed several leadership certifications. She is currently serving as past-chair for the YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region. Susannah holds a bachelor of science in psychology and mathematics from McGill University and is fluently bilingual in French and English.

Sonia Isaac-Mann is Mi’gmaq from Listuguj First Nation and recently became the president and CEO of the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, where she leads the implementation of its strategic plan and the overall management of operations. By providing “community-led services and a strong voice for community health needs,” the organization serves 33 Anishinabe communities across Kiiwetinoong in northern Ontario to achieve a vision of “resilient and healthy Nations supported on their path to wellness.”

Sonia holds a master of science in medical sciences-public health sciences with a focus on population health from the University of Alberta faculty of medicine and a bachelor of science from Bishop’s University.

Sonia has worked in First Nations health for over 20 years and has extensive community, regional, and national experience. She advocates for culturally appropriate health policies that lead to better programs and services for First Nations communities.

She has previously served as the vice-president of community health and wellness programs and services at the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) in British Columbia. The FNHA is a health and wellness partner to over 200 diverse First Nations communities and citizens across the province. As a key senior leadership member, Sonia led her team through a community-oriented approach to delivering services and programs. A critical function of her role was to provide professional health and wellness advice to B.C. First Nations, First Nation health service organizations, health directors, and regional directors.

Before joining the FNHA in 2015, she held several roles over 10-plus years with the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa, including as the associate director of health.

Sonia has experience with numerous boards and committees, including at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Northern and Remote Health Network at the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, and the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation.

As a senior adviser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Donovan is driving their provincial advocacy efforts in Newfoundland and Labrador. He has held previous positions in strategic communications with NATIONAL Public Relations, the University of Toronto Health and Wellness Centre, and CivicAction.

Donovan has facilitated consensus-based decisions on diverse boards, committees, and councils. This includes organizations with governance and technical mandates as well as non-partisan advisory bodies for a premier, a prime minister, and a governor general of Canada. He is in his second term as a board director at the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Donovan was vice-chair of the technical committee that developed the world’s first national standard on mental health and well-being for post-secondary students, for which CSA Group awarded him the 2020 National Young Professional Award. An advocate for the voices of lived and living experience, Donovan was also an ambassador for the annual Faces of Mental Illness campaign led by Bell and the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health.

Donovan’s background includes four years as an elected municipal councillor in their home community in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Donovan holds a bachelor of arts in communications from Memorial University and is active in the GPC.D designation program for the Governance Professionals of Canada.