
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
| Nicholas's bio |
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Nicholas Watters is the executive director for the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions (the Knowledge Institute). Nicholas holds bachelor degrees in Political Science and Communication Studies from the University of Windsor, a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Institute of Business, and a Certified Health Executive designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders. In 2022, Nicholas received eMHIC’s Lifetime Achievement Award for e-mental health development, implementation, and forward-thinking leadership. In 2018, he won the Great Canadian Healthcare debate, moderated by André Picard at the Canadian College of Health Leaders Conference. His winning topic was universal mental health care for all. |

Director, Operations and Support Services
| Melissa's bio |
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Melissa Jennings is the director of operations and support services 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 |
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Dr. Amy Porath (PhD, CHE) is the Director of Research and Knowledge Mobilization at the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa and as an Investigator at the CHEO Research Institute. An alumna of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, Amy is an internationally recognized expert in substance use health research and knowledge mobilization. With more than 22 years of experience, government officials, NGOs, top-tier media and communities regularly seek her expertise. Her strategic leadership in providing evidence to help Canadians make informed decisions about cannabis earned her a spot on Canada’s Top 100 Health Influencers list in 2019 and 2020. Committed to advancing high-quality care, Amy advises on system transformation across child and youth mental health, addictions and substance use health services. |
This team is the backbone of the organization. Team members make sure we pay our bills, spend wisely and demonstrate our impact.

Talib Hussain
Contracts Officer

Pamela Wangkhang
Project Coordinator

Hanna Gibson
Senior Administrative Assistant


Mageya Castedo
Finance Clerk
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.







This team uses its expertise to support others working in child and youth mental health and addictions care 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.



Lamia Moheb Almorsy
Quality Improvement Consultant




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.



Mario Cappelli
Senior Clinician-Scientist








Kassia Makris
Research Coordinator




Renée Gulinigaer
Research Assistant
Our implementation and evaluation team supports our sector to effectively plan, improve and implement evidence-based practice. With their expert coaching and guidance, they bring great ideas to life, making change processes faster, more efficient and highly effective.






This team supports our sector partners and others across the child and youth mental health and addictions care system to meaningfully engage young people and families in Ontario. Team members also help us to fulfill our commitment to do so in our own work.






