Dr. Robin Alter has been a registered clinical psychologist in practice in Ontario since 1979. She received her master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Florida in 1979. She was a Senior Consultant to the Hincks-Dellcrest Children’s Centre (now the SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health and to Blue Hills Child and Family Centre (now York Hills Centre for Children, Youth and Families) for almost 40 years. In her consulting capacity, she also worked with Anishnawbe Health Toronto, conducting Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) assessments. Her current practice includes the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. She is the co-founder of the ADD Institute and a lifetime member of the Canadian Psychological Association, Ontario Psychological Association, and American Psychological Association. At CPA she is a member of the Indigenous Section, where she manages the newsletter “The Circle in Action.”

Dr. Alter has been working as a psychologist for over 44 years. In Florida, she was the only psychologist working with children and families in a rural mental health centre. Since moving to Toronto in 1979, she has served as a clinician and consultant and taught psychology courses at York University, while running her comprehensive private practice. She is the author of several books — Anxiety and the Gift of Imagination and The Anxiety Workbook for Kids — and has been a trustee with Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada for the past 10 years, contributing to program development for stress management and serving on the Task Force guiding psychologists in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations for Indigenous Peoples of Canada.

Mike is a commercial litigator and a partner in Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. Mike has particular expertise in advising clients in the financial services industry, having spent 18 months seconded to a large Canadian bank where he managed litigation for the bank’s capital markets, wealth management, and treasury services businesses. Mike also regularly advised the business on compliance and regulatory issues, and planned and managed numerous internal investigations regarding a variety of issues, including regulatory inquiries and prosecutions, employment matters, and securities issues.

Mike also acts for developers, commercial landlords, and tenants in litigation relating to lease disputes and renewals, purchase and sale transactions, enforcing secured interests, and related injunctive relief. Mike has extensive experience in other areas of commercial litigation, including directors’ and officers’ liability, oppression proceedings, complex fraud matters, injunctions, and class actions.

Mike has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, represented clients in both domestic and international arbitrations, and dealt with numerous regulators, including the Ontario Securities Commission and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (now CIRO).

Carol is a Partner and leader in Professional Services at Deloitte Canada. She has decades of experience leading complex transformations in the public and private sectors, always with people at the centre. Carol’s focus is primarily on her Provincial and Federal Government clients. Prior to consulting, she served as an HR leader in some of Canada’s largest organisations.

Carol also has prior experience serving on boards for children-focused nonprofits and charities. She served on the Maurice Cody Child Care Board and on the Future Possibilities for Kids Board as the HR leader.

Carol holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a BA from Western University.

Julie Gaudry is Vice President, Insurance Product Development at RBC Insurance. Julie is a health and wellness professional by background, with proven effectiveness in business leadership, strong interpersonal skills, and a passion for leading highly engaged teams in the development and execution of innovative programmes that positively impact the physical and mental health of the communities we serve.

Julie has been at RBC since 2006, where she has held a number of progressively senior positions, including Wellness and Group Benefits roles within Human Resources until 2014, leadership of the Group Benefits and Creditor Insurance businesses until 2024, and now serves as Vice President, Insurance Product Development, responsible for developing and championing innovative products to meet evolving client needs in collaboration with partners across RBC.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology (with a minor in Psychology) from McMaster University and a Doctor of Chiropractic from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. She also holds certifications in Foundations of Financial Performance at Ivey Business School and is an NCCP Competition–Introduction trained coach.

After completing the International MBA at the Schulich School of Business, York University, with a specialty in Russia and Eastern Europe, Malcolm worked for several years in Germany before returning to Canada. Motivated by his interest in insight, perception, and brand behaviour, he focused on brand and consumer strategy and has led strategic initiatives in Canada, North America, and Europe. After making rain at some of Canada’s leading agencies, both network and independent, he founded McLean Strategic. More recently, he also stepped into the role of President & Chief Strategy Officer at Mackie Biernacki, an independent, full-service boutique agency.

During his career, Malcolm has been engaged as the strategic lead for Canada on some of the world’s most recognised brands, including Apple, Absolut, BMW, HSBC, Mars, Mercedes, and P&G. He has led strategic initiatives across North America and in Europe, even presenting a country-brand strategy to the President of Armenia (really!). He has also worked with a variety of not-for-profit organisations, including CBCF, The Salvation Army, Special Olympics, Moms Demand Action for Gun Control in America, and the Missing Children’s Society of Canada. Malcolm led the agency team responsible for rebranding the Psychology Foundation of Canada to Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada, an initiative that led to him joining the board and subsequently becoming Vice-Chair.

Malcolm speaks four languages, is a proud Maritimer, and is very much a dog person.

Kate Mason-Smith has been in the Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada orbit for many years and is grateful for the opportunity to be considered a candidate for the Board. Kate is passionate about kids’ mental health, health promotion, and public policy more broadly.

She is currently a Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and an Advisor to the Weston Family philanthropic foundations. Prior to her current roles, Kate was a senior executive in the Ontario Government: she served as Deputy Minister of Education, Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Assistant Deputy Minister of Health (Health Promotion).

Kate holds a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University.

Dr. Ryan Persram is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University, specialising in developmental psychology with a focus on sibling and peer relationships and their role in mental health and well-being. He holds a PhD and MA from Concordia University and completed postdoctoral fellowships at McGill University and Queen’s University.

Dr. Persram has received prestigious funding from SSHRC and FRQSC, has published extensively in leading journals, and contributes to the field as a consulting editor and research partner with national networks, such as PREVNet. His research and teaching emphasise applying psychological science to promote positive developmental outcomes across childhood and adolescence.

Dr. Nicole Racine is a clinical psychologist, associate professor, and Director of the EARLY Lab at the University of Ottawa, Canada. She holds the Research Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), where she collaborates with clinicians and community partners to conduct research on child trauma.

Her research examines the impact of early adversity in early childhood and identifies prevention and intervention approaches that promote resilience.

Dr. Chantal Regis is a Registered Psychologist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Guelph. Her areas of practice include children and adolescents. She provides therapeutic, assessment, and consultation services at the Durham District School Board and in private practice in the Greater Toronto Area.

Dr. Regis previously worked as a staff psychologist at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.