Our Board of Directors

Ross Manning

Ross Manning is a Vice President & Partner with IBM Global Business Services located in Calgary and is responsible for leading the Natural Resources practice within Canada. Ross joined IBM in August 2011 and is a recognized as a Global thought Leader as a member of IBM Global Industry Academy.

Ross is an innovative and motivated executive who brings a broad range of experience in digital transformation and operational excellence to companies operating in the natural resources value chain to create competitive differentiation. Prior to IBM, Ross worked for Hewlett-Packard (HP) Enterprise Services where he led HP’s largest and most complex information technology, applications and business process outsourcing opportunities. In addition, Ross also held a position on the U.S. Energy leadership team. He was responsible for providing solutions and services in the U.S. market covering the Utilities, Oil and Gas, Energy Services, and Engineering industries. Before HP, Ross was the Vice President of Energy and Transportation at Electronic Data Systems (EDS), a role that focused on the Utilities, Energy, Engineering and Transportation marketplace.

In Ross’ 35-year career, he has proven his expertise in: value chain optimization, organizational transformation, digital reinvention, operational excellence, and employee development. He has strong interpersonal and communication skills as well as an ability to build strong teams that contribute to continued success in a key sector of the Canadian economy.

Earlier in his career Ross worked for Xerox Canada Ltd. for 17 years in various senior roles. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta and has a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Economics, Political Science and Psychology.

Currently, Ross is the Past President of the board for the Calgary Region of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and a member of the Alberta Board of the CHMA. Ross previously volunteered for 10 years with the United Way of Calgary including his role as Co-Chair of the Leaders Committee. His other interests include golf and skiing. Ross is also an avid triathlete and is a four-time Ironman finisher. He and his wife Sharon have two children, Christian and Carly.

Sharon Pitawanakwat

Sharon Pitawanakwat brings 30 years of senior leadership experience obtained from a variety of not-for-profit organizations including serving as CEO for 6 years with CMHA-Thunder Bay. Sharon’s Indigenous heritage, extensive experience with Accreditation, leadership experience and executive coaching skills will bring a diverse, forward thinking, curious, and innovative mindset to the role of Director-at-Large. Sharon’s deeper passion is the creation of inspired, self-aware and fulfilled leaders and teams who are committed to creating happy, engaged and inspiring workforces. As a practitioner and teacher of Kundalini Yoga Sharon brings a peaceful and balanced presence to all her endeavors. Sharon is currently the Executive Director of Serenity House, a residential addictions treatment centre for men in Ottawa.

Jameel Gane

Jameel Gane is a Lawyer and Strategic Partner with 10 years of legal experience, 10 years of customer service experience and 3 years of experience in the financial industry. Throughout his career Jameel has worked across a variety of sectors, from government to energy, retail, logistics and finance. His experience has taken him across Canada and to the United Nations. Jameel has acted before numerous tribunals in Ontario, various levels of the Ontario Courts and before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal. 

 Being a transformational leader has always been key to his DNA as he is never one to accept that the old way is the only way. Reaching across divisions and job functions, Jameel identifies gaps in processes, and is successfully able to optimize operations. Jameel also has a strong passion for promoting sustainability and DEI, making these two extremely important issues central considerations in all of his decisions while also instilling strong corporate values. On a personal level, Jameel is a fitness enthusiast, an avid skier, budding mountaineer and motorcycle rider

Amanda O’Sullivan

Amanda O’Sullivan, CPA, is a Senior Enterprise Transformation Consultant working with Mariner Innovations. She is based in New Brunswick and has been part of CMHA NB’s Board of Directors for the past 4 years. Her areas of expertise include: Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, Technology, Strategic Planning and Change Management. Amanda’s involvement with CMHA comes from wanting to make a difference to families and communities who are struggling with their mental health.

Jameel Gane

Jameel Gane is a Lawyer and Strategic Partner with 10 years of legal experience, 10 years of customer service experience and 3 years of experience in the financial industry. Throughout his career Jameel has worked across a variety of sectors, from government to energy, retail, logistics and finance. His experience has taken him across Canada and to the United Nations. Jameel has acted before numerous tribunals in Ontario, various levels of the Ontario Courts and before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal. 

 Being a transformational leader has always been key to his DNA as he is never one to accept that the old way is the only way. Reaching across divisions and job functions, Jameel identifies gaps in processes, and is successfully able to optimize operations. Jameel also has a strong passion for promoting sustainability and DEI, making these two extremely important issues central considerations in all of his decisions while also instilling strong corporate values. On a personal level, Jameel is a fitness enthusiast, an avid skier, budding mountaineer and motorcycle rider. 

Sharon Pitawanakwat

Sharon Pitawanakwat brings 30 years of senior leadership experience obtained from a variety of not-for-profit organizations including serving as CEO for 6 years with CMHA-Thunder Bay. Sharon’s Indigenous heritage, extensive experience with Accreditation, leadership experience and executive coaching skills will bring a diverse, forward thinking, curious, and innovative mindset to the role of Director-at-Large. Sharon’s deeper passion is the creation of inspired, self-aware and fulfilled leaders and teams who are committed to creating happy, engaged and inspiring workforces. As a practitioner and teacher of Kundalini Yoga Sharon brings a peaceful and balanced presence to all her endeavors. Sharon is currently the Executive Director of Serenity House, a residential addictions treatment centre for men in Ottawa.

Ailie McGinty

Ailie McGinty is passionate about the importance of lived experience and has been involved in grass-roots lived experience organizations for over 20 years, both in Canada and in Scotland. It was through her own experiences of the mental health system that she became involved in this work, which in turn has led to her career choices. In her current “day job” she is the Crown Attorney for Dartmouth Wellness Court in Nova Scotia. In her spare time, she loves hiking and lots of crafts.

Ross Manning

Ross Manning is a Vice President & Partner with IBM Global Business Services located in Calgary and is responsible for leading the Natural Resources practice within Canada. Ross joined IBM in August 2011 and is a recognized as a Global thought Leader as a member of IBM Global Industry Academy.

Ross is an innovative and motivated executive who brings a broad range of experience in digital transformation and operational excellence to companies operating in the natural resources value chain to create competitive differentiation. Prior to IBM, Ross worked for Hewlett-Packard (HP) Enterprise Services where he led HP’s largest and most complex information technology, applications and business process outsourcing opportunities. In addition, Ross also held a position on the U.S. Energy leadership team. He was responsible for providing solutions and services in the U.S. market covering the Utilities, Oil and Gas, Energy Services, and Engineering industries. Before HP, Ross was the Vice President of Energy and Transportation at Electronic Data Systems (EDS), a role that focused on the Utilities, Energy, Engineering and Transportation marketplace.

In Ross’ 35-year career, he has proven his expertise in: value chain optimization, organizational transformation, digital reinvention, operational excellence, and employee development. He has strong interpersonal and communication skills as well as an ability to build strong teams that contribute to continued success in a key sector of the Canadian economy.

Earlier in his career Ross worked for Xerox Canada Ltd. for 17 years in various senior roles. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta and has a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Economics, Political Science and Psychology.

Currently, Ross is the Past President of the board for the Calgary Region of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and a member of the Alberta Board of the CHMA. Ross previously volunteered for 10 years with the United Way of Calgary including his role as Co-Chair of the Leaders Committee. His other interests include golf and skiing. Ross is also an avid triathlete and is a four-time Ironman finisher. He and his wife Sharon have two children, Christian and Carly.

Judy Darcy

Judy Darcy was appointed British Columbia’s first – and, at the time, North America’s only – Minister of Mental Health and Addictions in 2017. She led the ministry in launching new and innovative mental health and addiction programs and powerful anti-stigma campaigns, improving accessibility to care, and developing Pathway to Hope – a groundbreaking ten- year plan to build a full continuum of mental health and addiction care. She served as the MLA for New Westminster from 2013 to 2020.

She has been a Board member of CMHA-BC since 2021 and a member of its Strategic Planning Committee, Resource and Developoment Committee, and the Governing body for PACT (community-led care teams that respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis).

Judy has spent her entire life advocating for equality and human rights and working to improve health care and the public services people rely on. She served as National President of Canada’s largest union, CUPE, for 12 years, for most of the time the only woman in such a position. As president of a large complex organization with provincial divisions and hundreds of chapters (locals), she led in building broad coalitions, strategic planning, government relations, and spear-heading campaigns to expand public health care.

Judy is a passionate public speaker and story-teller, a writer, an enthusiastic and effective fundraiser, and a mentor to young women leaders. She believes strongly in CMHA’s vision of equity between mental health and physical health and is excited to contribute to this work.

Monique Levesque-Pharoah

As a fundraiser with over 15 years experience, Monique Levesque-Pharoah is currently the Director of Partnerships & Events at the Health Sciences Centre Foundation in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She enjoys working with organizations and donors to help provide tomorrow’s healthcare today.

Monique holds a Certificate in Human Resources Management (Honours) and as owner of Unique Communications & Training, has professional experience in employee development, communication & leadership as well as conflict resolution. She received her Mediation Skills Certificate from Manitoba Mediation Services in 2021.

Monique served on the Toastmasters International Board of Directors from 2016-2018 helping to set the strategic direction for this world-wide organization.

Her support in the mental health field has spanned over a decade. From 2007 – 2009, Monique served on the board for SSCOPE, a non-profit, registered charity that provides employment to people with lived experience. While serving as District Governor for Toastmasters International, a Toastmasters club was built to support mental health consumers in communication in leadership. In 2015, her final presentation to attain her Distinguished Toastmasters designation was to facilitate a panel on mental health.

In 2019, Monique was voted on the Canadian Mental Health, Manitoba & Winnipeg board and served as Vice-Chair in those 2 years. She currently serves as Board Chair.

Amanda O’Sullivan

Amanda O’Sullivan, CPA, is a Senior Enterprise Transformation Consultant working with Mariner Innovations. She is based in New Brunswick and has been part of CMHA NB’s Board of Directors for the past 4 years. Her areas of expertise include: Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, Technology, Strategic Planning and Change Management. Amanda’s involvement with CMHA comes from wanting to make a difference to families and communities who are struggling with their mental health.

Bette Watson-Borg

Bette Watson-Borg is a results-oriented professional with over 30 years experience working with others across Canada on programs, projects, and complex multi-year social impact initiatives – with a focus on growth and development of everyone involved. In 2000, Bette became the first woman to hold the role of Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth in the 150 years of the organization. In this role, she was responsible for the strategic and operational management of a $7 million annual budget, a human resource team of over 200 staff and 100 volunteers and a diversity of social, health and educational programs and services supporting the growth and development of children, teenagers and adults of all ages. In 2015, she started her consultancy working in the areas of leadership, strategy, social impact, governance and operational excellence. Bette thrives in supporting others in life-long learning and has been on the Part Time Faculty of MSVU since 2019 and teaches in the Department of Business and the Nonprofit Management program. Bette is currently engaged with the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) and the development and mobilization of the first ever clinical guidelines related to social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Working together with others, to strengthen the social determinants of health, is the thread that ties all of the work that Bette engages with her clients and their communities.

Related Education, Training & Certification

• Master Degree: Workplace Learning, University of Calgary
• Certified Professional Team Coach (CPTC), Team Coaching International (TCI)
• Certified Professional-Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Coach Training Institute (CTI)
• Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coaching Federation
• Certificate: Trauma Informed Coaching, Coaching World
• Certificate: Evaluation for Social Change & Transformation, Simon Fraser University
• Certificate: Evaluation Essential Skills, Canadian Association of Evaluation

Marcel Gagnon

Marcel Gagnon is from Thunder Bay where he works in the financial sector as an FCPA (Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant) as a partner in the national accounting and consulting firm, MNP. Marcel works primarily with not-for-profit clients in both the health care and Indigenous sectors. As a professional accountant and auditor, he has been advising clients in the not-for-profit sector and assisting them on governance matters for over 40 years.

Marcel’s interest in participating on the CMHA Ontario Division board stems from his initial involvement on the local branch of CMHA Thunder Bay as the Treasurer. He is also motivated as someone with lived experience in the mental health and addictions sector. He is especially interested in giving back to advance the awareness and accessibility of supports for people living with mental health and addition issues.

Marcel’s governance experience includes CMHA Thunder Bay as the treasurer for over 10 years as well, previous tenure with the board of St Joseph’s Care Group in Thunder Bay (a local health care organization offering a broad range of programs and services in addictions and mental health, rehabilitative care, and seniors’ health) as treasurer.

Cecil Villard

Cecil Villard, the President of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Mental Health Association PEI Division, has contributed a plethora of knowledge and expertise to the mental health service, stemming from a career of over 36 years in government. Throughout his career, Mr. Villard spent 15 years as the Executive Director of Mental Health Services in Prince Edward Island, 10 years as the Executive Director of the Provincial Psychiatric Hospital and the Provincial Acute Care Hospital and 10 years as the Executive Director of five different community hospitals. In addition to holding these positions, Villard has served in various leadership roles including the PEI Representative for the National Home Care Board and a National Board member for both the Special Olympics and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Villard’s work with the Special Olympics has been both national and internationally recognized.

Geneviève Cyr

Geneviève Cyr is a doctoral candidate at the Université de Montréal School of Public Health (ESPUM) specializing in health systems, organizations and policies. Her research focuses on understanding the role of patients and loved ones in the development of innovation in healthcare living labs. Geneviève completed her undergraduate studies in Sciences (Honors in psychology-University of New-Brunswick), followed by a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration (ESPUM). Her academic journey has been marked by a passion for solving complex problems by leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to her research, she is a member of the Order of Chartered Administrators of Quebec and Vice-President of CMHA Quebec Division. Genevieve has a desire to have a meaningful impact on public health issues and an unwavering dedication to advancing the field through research and community engagement. She hopes to push the boundaries of the health system to provide mental health services that are accessible to all.