Our Staff

Marion Cooper

Marion brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the mental health and addictions sector, with a strong track record in public mental health, strategic partnerships, and Indigenous collaboration. She has made significant contributions to the public health sector both nationally and internationally. Marion represents Canada on the Board of Directors for the Global Mental Health Leaders Exchange and collaborates closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the sponsoring agency for this global initiative. Her expertise has also informed her role as a consultant and co-design lead with Stepped Care Solutions, helping to evolve service delivery models across the country.

Having been trained as a clinical social worker, she has worked in the frontlines of many diverse organizations and has led many teams to deliver mental health and addiction services. Throughout her career, Marion has been a driving force behind the Recovery College model in Canada and the application of co-design methodology in Manitoba and beyond. Her earlier work in public health included leading mental health promotion, illness prevention, and early intervention programs. A past chair of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), she has also contributed to numerous strategies and national research projects, including the Public Health Agency of Canada-funded “Towards Flourishing” initiative, supporting mental health for vulnerable families.

Marion has long been a dedicated champion of the CMHA federation, and a respected voice on CMHA’s Nationwide Leadership Team, comprised of Division leaders from across Canada. She brings to this role a deep sense of commitment to collaboration and participatory approaches to leadership—qualities that are essential in building strong relationships within a federation and uniting diverse voices across CMHAs and the mental health sector. Her leadership style is grounded in empathy, shared purpose, and the belief that transformative change is possible when people come together.