We employ professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds including health sciences, evaluation, research, knowledge exchange, communications, administration and more.
Our executive sets our entire team up for success. These individuals set direction, seek out emerging trends and work to inform practice and policy initiatives across the sector.
Executive Director
Purnima's bio |
Purnima Sundar (PhD) is the executive director at the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions (the Knowledge Institute). With almost 25 years of experience doing community-based, participatory action research, evaluation, implementation and knowledge mobilization in the areas of child and youth mental health and race and equity, Purnima sets the vision and strategy for the Knowledge Institute. She was educated in the fields of psychology and social work, with a focus on community development and social planning. Purnima is also adjunct research professor in the School of Social Work at Carleton University. Since joining the Knowledge Institute in 2008, she has worked with government partners across ministries, as well as agency leaders, young people and families throughout the province to ensure high quality, evidence-based mental health and addictions services for Ontario’s children and young people. |
Director, Special Projects
and Operations
Melissa's bio |
Melissa Jennings (she/her) is the director of special projects and operations at the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions (the Knowledge Institute). Melissa holds a master’s degree in child studies and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Early in her career, she was involved in a range of program evaluation and community-based research initiatives in the areas of school-age childcare, early years, social-emotional learning, violence against women and programming for seniors. Melissa joined the Knowledge Institute’s leadership team in 2012 and has led the evaluation support program, the knowledge broker team and most recently key internal planning- and performance-related activities. Melissa oversees the Knowledge Institute’s operations. |
Director, Research and Knowledge Mobilization
Amy's bio |
Amy Porath (PhD) is the director of research and knowledge mobilization at the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions (the Knowledge Institute). Amy holds a PhD in psychology and is an alumna of both the University of Ottawa and Carleton. She has more than 22 years of experience conducting and leading substance use research and knowledge mobilization activities. An internationally recognized subject matter expert, her savvy has been sought out by the Government of Canada, parliamentary committees and the World Health Organization. Amy is also a peer reviewer for several journals and a longtime member of the editorial board for the Canadian Journal of Addiction. Amy leads the Knowledge Institute’s efforts to identify and respond to the knowledge needs of the child and youth mental health and addictions sector and others who shape policy and practice in this area. This includes advancing and mobilizing knowledge through applied research initiatives, evidence resources and quality standards. |
This team is the backbone of the organization. Team members make sure we pay our bills, spend wisely and demonstrate our impact.
Alison McAfee
Senior Administrative Assistant
Mageya Castedo
Finance Clerk
Pamela Wangkhang
Project Coordinator
Our communications team works strategically across the organization and with each of our project teams to ensure that we are effectively communicating what we do.
Nicole Forget
Manager, Communications
Brooke Eboule
Communications Specialist
Christopher Vallée
Communications Specialist
Vendela Edmonds
Communications Specialist
Virginie Faubert
Communications Specialist
Ray Heath
Multimedia Specialist
Eric Wellman
Senior Technical Analyst
This team uses its expertise to support others working in child and youth mental health and addictions to evaluate their work and make sure they are being the best they can be. They also do the same for our own team, helping to hold us accountable to our goals.
Blake Davey
Manager, Planning and Performance
Sandra Huang Del Frari
Manager, Quality
Christine Polihronis
Senior Data Analyst
Emma McDonald
Operations and Performance Measurement Specialist
Ann Barber
Quality Improvement Consultant
Kristina Rohde
Quality Improvement Consultant (on leave)
Lamia Moheb Almorsy
Quality Improvement Consultant
Jessica Murray
Quality Improvement Specialist
Kassia Malis
Quality Improvement Specialist
Ajiri Onwo
Research Assistant
Our knowledge mobilization team makes information accessible, understandable and usable for those who need it most. Team members’ expertise helps align research, policy and practice to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
Nikky Summers
Manager, Knowledge Mobilization
Mario Cappelli
Senior Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician-Scientist
Evangeline Danseco
Senior Researcher
Poppy Desclouds
Senior Researcher
Sarah Pinder
Knowledge Broker
Kathryn Matsushita
Implementation Consultant
Renée Nossal
Implementation Consultant
Ashley Radomski
Research Associate
Amanda Davis
Research Coordinator
Gabrielle Lucente
Research Coordinator
Charlene Song
Research Coordinator
Kayla Beaudin
Research Coordinator
Laura Ziebell
Research Coordinator
Madison Erbach
Research Coordinator
Marta Krygier-Bartz
Research Coordinator
Rola Hashem
Research Coordinator
Valerie Schutte
Research Coordinator
Scott Robson
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Alexandra Tucci
Research Assistant
Renée Gulinigaer
Research Assistant
This team supports our sector partners and others across the child and youth mental health and addictions system to meaningfully engage youth and families in Ontario. Team members also help us to fulfill our commitment to do so in our own work.
Kelli Dilworth
Manager, Engagement
Christine Smith
Knowledge Broker
Natalie Markoff
Family Engagement Specialist
Shreya Sivaloganathan
Youth Advisor