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Conference Presentation
Mental Health Champions Panel: Strong Leadership Starts with Mental Health
This session will describe how progressive organizations have had success in moving forward their mental health strategy with a key focus on Senior Leaders. A strong mental health program requires leadership support, manager buy-in, and employee engagement . Getting this right isn’t always easy and sometimes there are set backs. Learn how these organizations have engaged their senior leaders to lead with mental health, how their managers carry this message forward, and how employees are buying in.
Panelist Biographies
Host: Tiana Field-Ridley
Tiana is a seasoned mental health advocate with a distinguished track record in developing comprehensive programs to enhance psychological health and safety in the workplace. Currently serving as a Senior Development Manager at Opening Minds, she is instrumental in helping employers design and implement robust mental health strategies that align with the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.
Her six years on the Alberta Mental Health Review Panel provided her with deep insights into both mental health and judicial systems, enriching her ability to create effective and sustainable mental health programs. Additionally, Tiana’s experience as an independent Mental Health First Aid instructor and conflict management consultant underscores her commitment to community development and her proficiency in program development and execution.
Tiana holds a degree in Human Services and is certified in Psychological Health and Safety, Mediation, Communication and Conflict Resolution, and Workplace Fairness Restoration. She is currently advancing her expertise by completing a master’s degree in Transdisciplinary Leadership.
Panelist: Karina Thomas – Government of Alberta – Strategic Evidence and Action, OHS Prevention Services Branch
Dr. Karina Thomas is the Occupational Disease Science Lead within the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Prevention Services branch at the Government of Alberta. Her role encompasses leading evidence-finding to support OHS policy and program development and delivery and evaluation for continuous improvement and accountability in the OHS program.
Her team administers the Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders grant program. These activities inform the province-wide OHS System, which aims to create safer work environments for Albertans. Dr. Thomas has a Ph.D. in Public Health and over 20 years of experience with the Government of Alberta, including leading the work for the Psychosocial Hazards pillar of the OHS Prevention Initiative.
Panelist: Mark McConnell – ATB
Mark McConnell (he/him) is an ultra runner, dog dad, and ATB’s Senior Manager of Corporate Wellness. As a former professional cyclist, Mark achieved his wildest dreams which came at a cost to his well-being. He’s been on a journey ever since to integrate well-being and performance because when they are aligned — it’s magic.
With education in kinesiology, a past life as an entrepreneur, and years in finance, Mark now leads the wellness strategy at ATB Financial. He consults and speaks to thousands of team members, clients, and communities each year on building well-being and healthy high performance into their lives and workplaces so that work works better for everyone.
Panelist: Owen Carroll – City of Edmonton – Mental Health/ Health Living Consultant
Originally from London, England, Owen has called Edmonton home for 12 and a half years. During his career, he has worked in the private and public sectors, spending the last 12 years in various roles and departments with the City of Edmonton. During his time with the City, he has lived, learned and shared his advocacy for mental health – leading, promoting and raising awareness for the wellbeing of all his colleagues. As a Mental Health and Healthy Living Consultant among a team of three, Owen facilitates and leads the Working Mind Program, and the development of a brand new City support, a Trauma Response Team. Owen is Psychologically Healthy and Safe Workplace certified and passionate about reducing the stigma related to men’s mental health.