Adam Benn, M.A., M.Ed., is an experienced facilitator and educator, with over ten years of experience in education and community healthcare. Adam has wide and ranging experience working with diverse populations with unique needs, including Black and Queer communities. This experience, coupled with an academic background in conflict management and adult education, has cultivated a practice that is focused on engaging with individuals to support their learning and growth, and is rooted in critical pedagogy and anti-oppression practice. Adam holds a Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University and a Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development from OISE/University of Toronto.

Adam currently works as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at VHA Home Healthcare and teaches part time as a Professor in the Faculty of Community and Social Service and in Continuous Professional Learning at Humber College. Adam is also on the roster of consultants with DiversiPro, a Trainer and Motivational Speaker with Positive Gear and Certified Personal Trainer with a number of recent publications on equity.

Nitika is the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Director of Prevention and Promotion Initiatives and leads programs and initiatives that are focused on suicide prevention, structural stigma, quality mental health care services, and mental wellness of healthcare providers. From grass-roots, evidence-informed, capacity-building projects to national initiatives, the Commission is striving to build consensus and drive system transformation.
Nitika has been with the Commission since 2013 and has led several national and international initiatives in the areas of workplace mental health, student mental health, employment for people living with serious mental illness, and suicide prevention. Nitika has extensive experience in strategic planning, program management, stakeholder relations, program evaluation, and knowledge exchange. She has also co-chaired MHCC’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee, along with spearheading this work at her Board appointments.
Nitika has earned a Master of Science in Biotechnology from Northwestern University in Chicago as well as a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. She is also a certified health executive and a project management professional. Nitika currently sits on the board of four organizations, namely, the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment, Frayme, SOCH Mental Health and 211 Ontario.

Catherine (she/her) has been working in the field of community mental health for over 25 years, in a diverse range of national and provincial contexts, and always with a focus on person-centered care, and ensuring that lived experience perspectives are integrated into policies, programs and services. Catherine holds a Master of Health Science and brings her experience working closely with experts in mental health and substance use health, research and community engagement to her role of Manager, Policy and Research. She works with the MHCC team, partners, and stakeholders across Canada to ensure that achieving mental equity is a key area of focus in our collective efforts towards system transformation.