Leadership & Governance

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Gulshan Alibhai

Serving for 5th term

Gulshan Alibhai, BSW, MSW, has been practiced social work for 22 years, working as an educator and case manager in mental health, long-term care, and settlement of newcomers. She worked at CMHA Toronto in diversity, mental health promotion and community engagement and taught with the Internationally Educated Social Work Bridging Program and the Internationally Educated Psychology Bridging Program. She currently teaches at Seneca College in the Mental Health Certificate Program and Wilfrid Laurier University in the MSW program. Gulshan was born in Uganda, Africa, and came to Canada as a refugee in 1972. Due to her own and her family’s experience as refugees, Gulshan’s main focus and interest are in the area of mental health and resettlement stress. She advocates for culturally competent services for newcomers in the area of employment and mental health.

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Katie Almond

Serving for 3rd term

Katie Almond has been working in the criminal justice system for 35 years, 31 of which have been as a probation and parole officer with the Ministry of the Solicitor General. For the past 18 years, she has worked with a client population marked by poverty, homelessness, mental illness, physical and developmental disabilities and polysubstance use. Ms. Almond has been involved in the development of extensive community networks and collaborative initiatives. She is the co-chair of both the downtown Toronto and provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating committees. Ms. Almond possesses a bachelor’s degree in psychology (Honours) and a master’s degree in education. 

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Jamuna Balaram

Serving for 1st term

Jamuna Balaram is a lawyer and mediator. In addition to a law degree, she holds a Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation, and a Certificate in Adjudication for Agencies, Boards and Tribunals from Osgoode Hall. Her legal practice has a specific focus on alternative dispute resolution. She has more than 10 years of experience working as a community mediator with various non-profit agencies. She is an Appointed Member of the College of Opticians of Ontario. Jamuna hopes to contribute her skills to bring awareness of the resources available to those living with mental health and their families. 

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Alana Boltwood

Serving for 3rd term

Alana Boltwood is a certified management consultant with KPMG’s Technology Consulting practice, where she helps institutions in health and human services prepare for the future through digital transformation. She has a Master’s of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation, where her thesis made it clear that mental health is fundamental to reducing poverty. A bachelor’s degree in statistics led Alana to work at Statistics Canada to conduct qualitative and quantitative research and to advise non-profits on performance measurement. Alana advocates for LGBTQ+ and other marginalized people, knowing from personal experience that they experience loneliness, trauma, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Alana shares joy through painting, photography and other art forms. 

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Lara de Sousa

Serving for 6th term

Lara de Sousa has over 20 years of experience in healthcare, working as a personal support worker, an occupational therapist, and in leadership roles within the community services sector and acute, primary, and home and community care. Lara is the VP of Operations and Patient Care at CarePartners. As the first OT on CMHA Toronto’s ACT Team, and with personal experience with mental illness, Lara has a deep commitment to advocating for and supporting our most vulnerable citizens to live healthy, productive and meaningful lives. Lara is thrilled to be part of CMHA Toronto’s legacy of excellence in care delivery and innovation. She hopes to contribute her skills and knowledge to improving systems of care for people with mental illness.  

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Paula Harrington

Serving for 2nd term

Paula Harrington has over 20 years of experience in human resources, working in both the private and public sectors. She is the Director of Employee Experience and Organizational Development at The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Paula has an MBA from Queen’s University, has completed the Workplace Mental Health Leadership Certificate Program at Queen’s University and is a Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor through CMHA. Paula is an advocate for building resilience and mental well-being in the workplace and a strong supporter of a system of care that recognizes that mental health is health.   

Maureen Hyland

Serving for 4th term

Maureen Hyland has been actively involved in mental health advocacy for many years. In 2015 she chaired a conference, Families Count: Healing Together, which offered strategies to assist individuals in navigating the mental health system. She currently holds positions on the East York Mental Health Counselling Services Board and the Family Outreach and Recovery Advisory Board. She also volunteers at the Art Gallery of Ontario and raises funds for a supportive housing residence. Maureen has a Master of Library Science from the University of British Columbia. Throughout her professional career, she has held library management positions at the University of Calgary and Osgoode Hall, Law Society of Ontario. She currently teaches at Humber College. 

Tarisai Madambi

Serving for 1st term

Tarisai Madambi is a Director in KPMG’s Finance Transformation Consulting practice. She brings over 20 years experience in providing assurance and advisory services in business strategy, financial operations, corporate governance and risk management across various industries. Tarisai is a passionate advocate for equity, inclusion and belonging, particularly as it relates to gender, race and mental health. She is a leading voice in the firm’s Anti-Racism strategy and has focused her work on disrupting the compounding impacts on and barriers to individuals within intersecting identities. Tarisai is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Dalhousie University and is lauded for ability to build and manage high performing teams.

Andrew Milroy

Serving for 1st term

Andrew Milroy (M.A., LSSBB) is a healthcare professional and systems thinker with a passion for Quality. He has spent over 10 years working in healthcare, clinical research, and international development to become an industry expert on matters of patient safety, quality assurance and improvement. Andrew is Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified and has successfully developed and managed complex Quality Management Systems in highly regulated healthcare fields, with the purpose of providing assurances for patient and research participant safety. Academically, he has studied concepts and contemporary issues of equality in society and political representation at the Master’s level, and has spent several years with his organizations Diversity and Equality Committee. Through membership in Rotary International, for which he has held the position of Club President, Andrew has dedicated years of service since 2011 helping improve the lives of those in Toronto and abroad that may be considered economically disadvantaged or otherwise marginalized in society. 

Cheryl Prescod

Serving for 3rd term

Cheryl Prescod strives to ensure equitable access to health services for vulnerable populations as the Black Creek Community Health Centre executive director. A dedicated community leader for over 25 years, she is a coalition builder, bringing together diverse stakeholders in community development initiatives that reflect the needs of people. She facilitates numerous community-academic partnerships in research to build evidence that informs policy and innovative approaches to complex problems in marginalized communities. Cheryl has an academic background in biological sciences, with graduate degrees from the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto and obtained leadership training in healthcare and non-profit management from the Rotman School of Management, Schulich School of Business and Harvard Business School. Cheryl values time spent with family and friends to maintain an optimal work-life balance.

Nadine Reid

Serving for 5th term

Nadine Reid has spent a decade learning and working in mental health and addiction research and eagerly looks forward to a long career dedicated to improving our local service system and the lives of those it serves. With a master’s in health sociology and Ph.D. in Health Services Research from the University of Toronto, she is committed to bringing a holistic, patient-centred perspective and a practical skillset to research, evaluation, quality and service planning discussions. Nadine is a passionate advocate for the invaluable role that high-quality, patient-centred community services play in helping individuals and families to live healthy and meaningful lives. She is excited and honoured to be part of an organization that shares her values and has a long history of leading by example. 

Murray Segal

Serving for 8th term

Murray Segal practices as independent legal counsel and consultant in downtown Toronto, following a distinguished career with the Ontario government, including eight years as Deputy Attorney General and former Deputy Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. His practice includes assisting the public and broader public service in improving the delivery of services. Prior to his time as the Deputy Attorney General, Murray was the Chief Prosecutor for Ontario, leading the largest prosecution service in Canada. He is certified as a Criminal Law Specialist and is the author of numerous legal publications. Murray has been on the Quality Assurance Committee of CMHA Toronto, is on the Board of Trustees of CAMH, and is a member of the Ontario Review Board. 

Rebekah Tsingos

Serving for 2nd term

Rebekah Tsingos is a graduate of the Concurrent Education program at Queen’s University and a lifelong mental health advocate. She has been an educator in Toronto for over 25 years as a secondary school teacher, vice-principal and principal with the Toronto District School Board. In her role as educator, she has supported hundreds of families and students navigate the evolving mental health landscape and seek support through a recovery lens. She brings professional experience in partnership programs that provide circle of care support to families and students and amplify student voice and choice in support options. As a trauma-informed survivor, Rebekah prioritizes supporting mental health needs through an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed lens for all students and families. Rebekah is currently focusing on mental health initiatives within the TDSB and community that foster positive LGBTQ2+ educational partnerships and examine systemic barriers for black and indigenous students accessing mental health supports within the school community. Rebekah also served as a former member, privacy officer and Chair of Family Outreach and Response, a mental health agency supporting families of those experiencing mental health trauma, now a partnership program at CMHA Toronto. 

Frank van Nie

Serving for 9th term

Frank van Nie has over 30 years of experience in the Canadian financial services industry working, first for TD Bank and then Visa Canada. He has had various roles in audit, operations, marketing, risk management, business continuity management and sales and account management. In 2009, Frank established his management consulting practice, Smart Strategies, which provides strategic advice to for-profit and non-profit organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Windsor and an MBA from the University of Toronto. He served on the CMHA Peel Dufferin Branch Board of Directors for 10 years and was the chair from 2010 – 2013. 

Trinity Zhang

Serving for 1st term

Trinity Zhang is a Director of Fundraising at SickKids Foundation, currently providing leadership to the Chinese Strategy team. She holds a Master’s Degree in Communications Management from McMaster University. Prior to her work at SickKids Foundation, she was in progressively senior roles at the George Brown College Foundation. Her work and experience on three continents, and in varied and wide-ranging settings equipped her with the ability to problem-solve and exceptional communications skills.  

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Michael Anhorn

Chief Executive Officer

Michael is a settler of Irish, German and Scottish descent who grew up on the traditional lands of the Niitsítpiis-stahkoii (Blackfoot) First Nation in what is now known as Saskatchewan. For the last 19 years, he has lived, worked and played on the traditional and unceded territories of the səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations, also known as Vancouver.

Michael has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years. He spent eight years as Executive Director of the CMHA Vancouver-Fraser Branch before entering his role as CEO of CMHA Toronto in November 2020.

Michael has served on the Board of Directors of several not-for-profit organizations, and he was one of the founding Directors of two of them: one focused on preserving the spiritual practices of Indigenous peoples, and the other a community service organization for the LGBTQ2S+ communities.

Michael is passionate about helping people live mentally healthy lives and creating an inclusive society, and supports the growing role of peers in the delivery of mental health services. He works to ensure that the not-for-profit sector in general, and specifically CMHA Toronto, has the leadership and governance capacity it needs to support people in our communities.

He has a Master of Arts in Planning from the University of British Columbia.

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Garfield Bembridge

Director, Organizational Performance

Garfield Bembridge has been with CMHA for over 21 years, spending the last 11 as the director of Organizational Performance at CMHA Toronto. His current portfolio includes Health Equity, Decision supports, Mental Health Promotion, Communications, Accreditation, and Fund Development.

Garfield has over 25 years of experience in community mental health and a proven track record as a collaborative and respected system leader. He has extensive experience in quality improvement, health and safety and scorecard development.

He is passionate about reducing the stigma associated with people dealing with mental health issues and is constantly working to eliminate health disparities and improve access to mental health services for all.

Garfield holds a Master of Science in Health Administration from the University of Toronto. He is a certified Patient Safety Instructor as well as a certified Psychological Health Safety Practitioner. He also holds a Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma. He has been certified as a Health Executive by the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

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Kathy Chau

Director, Justice & Specialized Services

Kathy Chau is the Director of Justice and Specialized Services and has worked for CMHA Toronto for over three decades. Before becoming the Director of Justice and Specialized Services in 2013, she worked as a residential support worker, case manager, court support worker and program manager.

Under her portfolio, Kathy supervises and oversees the following programs and services: mental health and justice programs, community treatment order program, forensic services, addiction services, dialectical behaviour therapy, healthy families program, and City of Toronto homelessness programs.

Kathy’s responsibilities include the strategic planning and development of programs, developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with external and internal stakeholders, meeting program standards and performance targets, providing leadership and support to all program managers, leaders and staff, and supporting agency-wide strategic planning and initiatives.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from McMaster University and a BSW and MSW from York University. Kathy has always wanted to work in a field that helps people and is passionate about social work and social justice. In her personal time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as jogging, hiking and camping.

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Michelle Rehder

Director, Specialized Services & Primary Care

Michelle Rehder is the Director of Specialized Services and Primary Care. She has over 25 years of hospital and community mental health experience as a registered nurse, manager and director.

Michelle is responsible for overseeing community mental health programs such as the assertive community treatment teams, intensive case management programs, housing first, early intervention and youth programming, employment (regional and national) and peer-led social support programs. She ensures that the programs and services are tailored to meet the changing needs of the community.

She is an innovative leader that has led the development of special projects and initiatives within the agency, including enhancing clinical services, assisting in the development and implementation of the early intervention model, and our primary care initiative, which includes telemedicine.

Partnerships are an integral part of delivering coordinated and comprehensive mental health services. Michelle’s strength is in building strong cross-sector partnerships to ensure clients, families and caregivers receive the highest quality services within their local communities.

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Rann Sharma

Director, People and Culture

As the Director of People and Culture, Rann oversees CMHA Toronto’s human resources strategy and operations. This includes talent acquisition, culture and engagement, total rewards, human resources policies, and equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Rann is a transformational HR leader in provincial healthcare, technology and not-for-profit. She was most recently employed at Ontario Health, where she was responsible for several key initiatives, including building the Ontario Health Lab Network team responsible for COVID-19 testing and vaccines, comprehensive talent acquisition programs grounded in equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, and change management through the adoption of HR systems. Prior to that, she led human resources at Health Shared Services Ontario through an integration into Ontario Health. Past roles include HR leadership at health service providers and the not-for-profit sector.

Rann has been awarded admission into the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) Wisdom II Mentorship Program, which features Canada’s most influential female audience. She has served on the University of Toronto’s Career Centre Advisory Board. Rann was selected as one of 16 Canadians across Canada to work on public policy and leadership development as an Action Canada fellow.

Rann is thrilled to support CMHA Toronto as it provides services and supports for individuals experiencing mental health issues in the city of Toronto.

Rann holds a Master’s in Human Resources.

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Susan Bower

Director, Finance & Corporate Services

As the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Susan leads our finance and business strategy as well as our information technology strategy. She collaborates with staff across the organization to align corporate service solutions by supporting the adoption and integration of technology across the organization and ensuring safe work and programming locations meet the needs of our staff and clients.

Susan has over 25 years of executive management experience in the charitable sector, including national organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and Girl Guides of Canada. Finance, IT oversight and general administration are among her areas of expertise, with an emphasis on organizational growth and collaborative process improvement.

Susan previously served in progressive capacities at VisionTV, a not-for-profit charity operating during the emergence of competitive specialty television channels in Canada. Most recently, Susan served as the Director of Finance and Administration with Canadian Stage.

Understanding that administration is a calling, Susan leads community-based organizations to effectively plan and deliver services using efficient economic systems, processes and protocols.

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Frank Sirotich

Director, Data Analytics, Research and Evaluation

Frank Sirotich is the Director of Data Analytics, Research, and Evaluation (DARE) at CMHA Toronto and an Assistant Professor (Status Only) at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

He began his career at CMHA Toronto in 1998 and has worked in various roles, including case manager, court support worker, manager and program director. In 2015, he was named Director of Data Analytics, Research and Evaluation (DARE).

As Director, Frank leads research projects that advance understanding of the service needs of people living with mental illness and that evaluate the effectiveness of these services in meeting these needs. This work promotes the continuous improvement of care provided to people using community mental health services.

He is currently leading CMHA Toronto’s research and evaluation initiative and supporting sector planning and quality improvement projects. For more information about the DARE program and research at CMHA Toronto, please click here.

Leadership & Governance

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Living. Working. Belonging.

Gulshan Alibhai

Katie Almond

Jamuna Balaram

Alana Boltwood

Lara de Sousa

Paula Harrington

Maureen Hyland

Tarisai Madambi

Andrew Milroy

Cheryl Prescod

Nadine Reid

Murray Segal

Rebekah Tsingos

Frank van Nie

Trinity Zhang

Michael Anhorn

Garfield Bembridge

Kathy Chau

Michelle Rehder

Rann Sharma

Susan Bower

Frank Sirotich

Leadership & Governance

The Board

Become a board member

Interested in joining?

Staff

Contact Us

Subscribe to Living. Working. Belonging.

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Living. Working. Belonging.