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. 

Tiana Field-Ridley is a big-picture thinker with a passion for pushing boundaries and empowering others. As Senior Development Manager for Psychological Health and Safety at Opening Minds, she’s on a mission to transform workplaces worldwide by championing mental health and psychological health and safety. Known for her truthfulness and unshakable drive, Tiana doesn’t just embrace change, she thrives in it, finding opportunities where others might see roadblocks.

At Opening Minds, Tiana has helped shape the mission of making workplaces better for everyone. From leading Opening Minds Psychological Health and Safety Training and Assessment Program to sparking innovative ideas that challenge the status quo, she brings energy, vision, and an out-of-the-box approach to her work. Inspirational yet unafraid to voice her opinions, Tiana advocates fiercely for what matters most: breaking down barriers and building a healthier future.

Caribbean at heart, Tiana’s warmth and authenticity shine through everything she does (and yes, she’s still deciding whether she prefers plantains fried or boiled). When she’s not shaping the future of workplace mental health or finishing her Master’s in Education, she finds joy in playing squash with her family of boys, proving that even in sports, she’s not afraid to chase a challenge (or a ball).
With her mix of passion, wit, and determination, Tiana is proof that workplaces can thrive when we embrace bold ideas and empower others to do the same.

As part of The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) & Opening Minds for the past four years, Eric has leveraged his extensive background in marketing and communications to advance the mission of improving mental health outcomes for all Canadians.

Through innovative campaigns and strategic initiatives, Eric has played a key role in raising awareness and fostering understanding of mental health issues, helping to create a more compassionate and informed society.

As Brand Manager for MHFA, Eric oversees the program’s overall health and performance while developing strategic plans to expand the reach and amplify the impact of Mental Health First Aid across Canada and beyond.

Outside of his professional achievements, Eric is an enthusiastic advocate for the benefits of an active lifestyle and can often be found spending his free time golfing, playing hockey, and snowboarding.

Eric brings energy, creativity, and a steadfast commitment to make a positive impact in the field of mental health.

Many people work in mental health because of personal or family experiences; Fiona is one of those. As an individual with lived and living experience of mental illness that started in childhood, and mom to an adult daughter living her own recovery story, Fiona is passionate about child and youth mental health and wants all young people to know that they matter. With a background in counselling, suicide prevention and contact education in both the UK and Canada, Fiona has been with the HEADSTRONG program since 2016, bringing the message of hope through youth leadership for mental health and wellness to thousands of students.

Outside of Opening Minds, Fiona volunteers with an animal rescue as a foster home for dogs, many of whom need rehabilitation from trauma – there could be a pattern here. In her spare time, Fiona looks after her own mental health by taking long walks with her dog pack, writing poetry and speculative fiction, and knitting or sewing. She makes textile-sculpted props for a professional magician and is considering making herself sweaters from dog hair because at this point no one would notice the difference.

People ask Fiona ‘What does ‘recovery’ mean?’ The answer is having the tools you need to get through the tough times, having the confidence to reach out when you need help, and knowing that there will be better days ahead it’s worth sticking around for.

Audrey’s transformational leadership philosophy emphasizes a people-first approach, proactive care, challenging the status quo and driving collective change. In addition to operational excellence, she prioritizes employee wellbeing and workforce advancement through innovative frameworks and the cultivation of safe spaces for dialogue, critical thinking, and innovation.

She joined MHCC-Opening Minds in 2018. In her role as Manager of Program Delivery, Audrey holds a decade of operational experience and leads a values-driven team with expertise in project management, operations, and data evaluation. Audrey and her team have excelled in delivering a record number of TWM courses while upholding service excellence, both domestically and internationally, since The Program’s inception. She was selected to represent Opening Minds on MHCC’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee as a certified member.

She holds a Degree in Social Sciences Psychology, along with certifications in professional coaching, leadership, and program development. Prior to joining MHCC, she worked in the labor movement as an Education Officer with The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC). There, she facilitated steward training and designed national education programs in labor law and collective bargaining. She served on committees addressing human rights in the workplace and psychological health and safety, she initiated and developed The Institute’s first Stewards’ Mental Health Guidelines.

Audrey values equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of her life. She volunteers in under-resourced communities which included a posting with Management Sciences for Health (USAID) in Peru. Her international upbringing and biracial / multicultural background equip her to facilitate intercultural dialogue, eliminate stigma, and drive change through education. Audrey firmly believes that mental health is a human right, and she is proud to keep Opening Minds to this important cause.

Katie has dedicated her career to the not-for-profit sector, bringing a wealth of experience in event and project management, client relations, and program operations. She began her journey organizing large-scale events, but her passion for meaningful impact led her to shift her focus to managing programs and projects. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, supported by Event Management and Project Management certificates, she has cultivated a well-rounded approach to support the customer’s journey.

Since joining Opening Minds in 2016, Katie has played a pivotal role in promoting mental health programs and providing support to clients. Her work has involved managing client relationships and ensuring seamless operations for facilitators, participants, and clients alike. Currently, Katie leads the Client Services & Operations team, where she oversees customer service and operational support. She thrives in a dynamic environment, surrounded by a team that shares her passion for helping people and improving mental health literacy.

Outside of her professional life, Katie is an active volunteer with canine rescue organizations and enjoys teaching fitness classes part-time, demonstrating her commitment to wellness and community involvement. Her drive to support both people and animals, along with her dedication to raising mental health awareness, defines her as a leader and advocate within the not-for-profit space.

Trevor Moses is a customer experience and customer success executive with more than 20 years of experience in optimizing client through a model of genuine care.  He believes that treating your customers, team members, partners and suppliers with transparency and gratitude everyone involved in the client journey has a great experience. 

Trevor joined Opening Minds in June 2024 and leads the Client Development team and motivates the team to deliver the messages from mental health awareness through to fully embedded Psychological Heath and Safety that our training and assessment programs provide. 

The journey to Opening Minds has gone through the private sector as well as consulting for non-profit organizations.  This path included stops and smaller organizations focuses on culture and client experience like Tigerpaw Software and imageOne and large  multi-national companies like Pitney Bowes and Xerox.   

 Leveraging best practices learned from the for-profit space Trevor began consulting for non-profit organizations with a model that focused on impact versus profits but uses similar principles around business optimization.  The social enterprise model at Opening Minds is a perfect fit as his team collaborates with the RLD, Program Delivery and Brand Management team to create ensure that our programs reach as many potential participants as possible. 

Trevor received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and balances his life by giving back through volunteer positions on Vancouver Island and when he isn’t on the ocean or at the top of a mountain. 

Rebecca Richardson is a strategic education leader who empowers individuals and organizations to foster connection, collaboration, and community resilience. As Manager of Research and Learning Design at the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Opening Minds, she supports a dynamic team dedicated to developing and sustaining impactful, evidence-based mental health training.

Before joining the Commission in 2019, Rebecca led the design of national learning events and accredited online programs while advising senior leaders across the co-operative housing sector. Her work focused on adult learning, community engagement, and capacity building.

She holds a Master of Education in Adult, Community, and Higher Education from the University of Calgary, as well as professional certificates in Knowledge Mobilization and Organizational Development. A bilingual communicator and strategic systems thinker, Rebecca is recognized for her inclusive approach and commitment to lifelong learning, which drives meaningful change.

Outside of work, Rebecca finds inspiration in nature, often exploring the outdoors with her family – grounded by the simplicity of trees, sky, water, and snow.

Chad is a dynamic communicator focused on creating a positive impact across every project, initiative or environment he comes across. With a background that spans professional roles and community engagement, Chad thrives at fostering meaningful connections and driving initiatives that inspire change.

In his current role of Brand Manager for The Working Mind, Chad brings strategic thinking, teamwork, and solution-focused planning to the forefront, working to empower those around him while instilling values of resilience and collaboration. He is committed to advocating for mental health through impactful work aimed at breaking stigmas and promoting open dialogue of mental well-being.

With over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, Chad excels at turning visionary ideas into practical strategies that drive results. His knack for aligning big-picture goals with actionable plans has consistently led to success across teams and projects.

In his personal life, Chad is a proud father of two girls and is currently mastering the art of braiding hair—a skill he knows will come in handy in the years ahead.

Shane is an accomplished business executive who, for 25 years, has been inspiring teams to think outside the box and drive sustainable growth. His people-first approach, combined with his experience in strategy, sales, marketing, and innovation, has driven success in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

Shane most recently served as the vice-president of social enterprise and strategic partnerships for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, where he established a business-to-business services division, leveraged technology-based innovation, and championed strategic partnerships to diversify revenue streams and drive growth.

He previously served as the vice-president of social enterprise for the Canadian Hearing Society, where he introduced a structured sales approach to drive growth of hearing health care and assistive technology. Prior to his not-for-profit work, Shane honed his skills in the consumer packaged goods (Kraft Foods, Borden, Georgia-Pacific) and pharmaceutical industries (Bristol-Myers Squibb, Mylan).

Shane holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Schulich school of business at York University and an undergraduate degree from Western University.

Passionate about helping people live the lives they choose; he believes that balance in life is critical for our physical and mental well-being. In his spare time, Shane enjoys playing sports (albeit, more recreational now), spending time with family and friends, volunteering at a large animal rescue facility, and (optimistically/naively) cheering for Toronto sports teams.