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Certified Trainers

Laura Allen, MSW, RSW
Laura Allen brings 30 years of professional experience working in both provincial and federal levels of government. She has held a variety of roles, including Program Manager, Clinical Treatment Supervisor, Counsellor, Therapist, and Educator. She has extensive experience in the area of addictions and mental health, as well as in the development and management of Employee Assistance Programs within the Federal Government. She has worked with all levels of management, unions and staff in support of organizational health, effective supervision, and change management. She has designed and facilitated training for Management, Human Resources and Unions, and provided advice, consultation and strategic direction in support of a fair, compassionate, productive and emotionally safe workplace. Laura understands the complexities facing managers as they strive to meet organizational expectations and employees’ needs, especially in the area of mental health. Currently Laura provides Clinical Supervisor for Out-Patient and Community based Treatment Services with Yukon Alcohol and Drug Services. She also maintains a private counseling practice in her home community of Salt Spring Island and delivers workshops for Leaders, as a Certified Trainer with CMHA’s Mental Health Works.

Margaret Tebbutt, MA
Margaret Tebbutt is Senior Consultant, Workplace Initiatives, for the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division. In addition to workshops, Margaret delivers presentations on strategic approaches to workplace mental health at conferences. Prior to joining CMHA in 2005, she held positions as Senior Advisor, Executive Development for the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business; Director, Client Service Delivery with Western Economic Diversification Canada; and in Canada’s foreign service at embassies abroad.

Margaret graduated from the University of Montpellier (France) with a Maïtrise ès letters (MA). She also completed executive training through the National Defence College Defence Resource Management Program, UBC Sauder School of Business, and the Canadian Centre for Executive Development.

Lucette Wesley, CIM, HIA, ALHC
Lucette is a certified Mental Health Works Trainer for the Canadian Mental Health Association. She understands the impact presenteeism, absenteeism, and disability has on an organization and the challenges managers face in addressing these, particularly in the area of workplace mental health.

Lucette has over 25 years of experience as Manager/Director of large disability claims operations responsible for up to 200 staff. Her expertise in disability management and her broad understanding of related fields is the foundation for providing support and innovation in disability management programs with employers, including large corporate, union and municipal plans. She was selected as one of the top 50 Women of Influence in the Canadian Insurance Industry by The Insurance and Investment Journal in 2014.

Lucette has been a long-time supporter of the CMHA as a Steering Committees member for the Bottom Line Conference and Women & Wellness events. She is President of the BC Collaborative for Disability Prevention and the BC Lymphedema Association where she an Editorial Board member for the national magazine Pathways. Lucette has actively promoted and supported mental health initiatives in her current and past workplaces and the external community.

Gord Menelaws
Gord works for Teck Trail Operations and is currently the full time Health and Safety Chair for The United Steelworkers Local 480 in Trail B.C and has been in that position since 2006. He is also the Chairperson for Teck’s Inspiring Wellness and Learning Program.

Born and raised in Trail, Gord is married with four children and maintains an active Kootenay Lifestyle of hiking, biking, and skiing. Both Gord and his parents have struggled with mental health issues in the past and this is the reason for his passion and drive towards helping others burdened with these diseases.

Gord is a certified Mental Health Works trainer and believes this training is essential in raising awareness of mental health issues, reducing the stigma around mental health, and reinforcing the need for early intervention and peer support within the workplace.

Sarika Gundu
Sarika leads the CMHA nation-wide Workplace Mental Health Program. This program includes a suite of tools and resources that support both the employer and the employee. She works closely with CMHA colleagues, partners and stakeholders at the national, provincial and local levels to improve capacity and delivery of workplace mental health programs and services to support the implementation of Canada’s National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety.

Sarika is currently a member of the steering committee for the Mental Health Commission of Canada Case Study Research Project and a member of the technical committee for the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety.

She holds a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from D’Youville College (Buffalo, New York) and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from York University.

She currently serves as Board Director for Links2Care, a multi-service, community support organization delivering a wide variety of programs and services for seniors, adults, youth, and children in Halton Region and Mississauga.

Julia Kaisla
Julia is the Director of Community Engagement for the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division. While her more formal role with CMHA BC involves overseeing workplace initiatives, public relations and branch relations, she spends her days writing and working with people. She is passionate about making a difference and is committed to promotion of mental health in Canada. She is a trained Mental Health Works facilitator, has a graduate degree in Conflict Analysis and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

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