Mary Ann is the director of Mental Health Works which is a multiple award-winning initiative of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Ontario. Mental Health Works addresses the management of workplace mental health issues from a practical approach that is grounded in Mary Ann’s firsthand experience as a business owner and manager. Mary Ann also serves as the Project Director for the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace which is a corporate social initiative of the Great-West Life Insurance Company.

Mary Ann holds a Master’s in Social Policy and did her research on innovation and empowerment in policy implementation. In other words, her research was on why the best laid plans don’t always work out and how to change those results.

She has 8 years experience as a nationally certified coach and feels many of the skills used in sports can be useful in business as well. Seeing each person as having unique talents and abilities that contribute to the team, understanding how motivation differs from person to person, and breaking down a skill in order to teach it to others are all part of what she has borrowed from sport psychology.

Currently, Mary Ann serves as a member of both the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Workforce Advisory Committee and on the Accessibility for Ontarian’s with Disabilities Employment Standards Committee.

Her background includes 15 years in the corporate world and 5 years in the non-profit sector. Today she speaks about managing mental health issues in the workplace, acts as a consultant in returning people to work where mental health issues or a history of workplace conflict is presenting an obstacle to success, and helps workplaces find solutions unique to their particular dynamic and reality. Mary Ann also both creates and delivers workshops intended to provide awareness and practical solutions to what are often complex issues.