BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Unsinkable’s Board of Directors is a dynamic and passionate group of corporate and community leaders. Together, they support Unsinkable’s mission to educate, empower and support people with their mental health.

Sigrun Watson

Board Chair

  • Driven by her passion for mental health advocacy, Sigrun joined the Board of Directors at Unsinkable after dedicating her career to healthcare innovation and equitable and expedient access to treatment.

    An accomplished and strategic commercial leader with over 25 years of diverse experience, Sigrun has led and developed high performing teams while launching and growing healthcare brands in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals/biotech, diagnostics, and healthtech.

    In her current role as Senior Business Advisor, Sigrun supports the successful commercialization of emerging Canadian healthtech and digital health solutions, focusing on those poised to make a real difference in patient outcomes. She previously served as Chief Revenue Officer at biotech firm Ceapro Inc., leading the company in advancing the commercialization of their pipeline of innovative nutraceutical and pharmaceutical solutions.

    Earlier in her career, Sigrun held progressive marketing and sales leadership roles with multiple Fortune 500 healthcare companies including Nestle, Eli Lilly, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Eisai Pharmaceuticals. Recognized for consistently delivering results through innovative strategic approaches, Sigrun also served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Inagene Diagnostics Inc., a genetic testing company focused on enabling a personalized treatment approach for mental health, chronic pain, and addictions.

    Originally from Iceland, Sigrun began her career as a Registered Dietitian after earning a nutrition sciences degree. Based on her family's own mental health journey and her background in healthcare, she is a passionate advocate for research-backed individualized approaches and the power of nutrition, exercise, and nature in supporting mental and cognitive health.

    Now based in Ontario with her husband and their four sons, Sigrun is deeply committed to the organization's mission of empowering youth mental wellness through her role as Director. She brings both heart and business acumen to help advance Unsinkable's meaningful work.

    Why I decided to lend my talents and expertise to Unsinkable?

    I am very impressed with the way the organization tells people’s stories and connects people to others to lend mental health supports and offer mental health resources. I would love to support Unsinkable with their mental health goals in reaching youth and assisting with the gaps where youth aren’t getting the support they need and helping to build appropriate programs and provide overall clinical support.

Kate Nazar

Board Director

  • Kate Nazar has been a pension focused professional for more than 26 years. Prior to her current role as Vice President, Strategy and Market Development, she held a select number of senior roles within Sun Life as: Vice President, Client Solutions Centre; Regional Vice President, Client Relationships and Business Development; and AVP, Client Relationships. Kate is a graduate of Western University with a degree in Economics and holds the RPA designation. She has dedicated her career to making the retirement industry stronger through active involvement and advocacy. Kate is a member of the Association of Canadian Pension Management National Policy Committee (ACPM NPC), the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) Defined Contribution Pension Plans Technical Advisory Committee, the Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute (CPBI) and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (ISCEBS). She was also appointed to the Board of Sun Life Financial Trust in late 2019.

    Kate’s commitment to the future of the pension industry is matched only by her commitment to making her communities stronger and more resilient. A 17 year survivor of late stage ovarian cancer, Kate volunteers as a speaker for the Survivor’s Teaching Students program through Ovarian Cancer Canada, is a female leadership mentor for The Scala Network, and was a 2018-2019 Vice Chair for the Princess Margaret Hospital Ride to Conquer Cancer.Recognizing the healthful benefits of being in and around nature, Kate enjoys downhill skiing, cycling, hiking and remaining faithful to her daily yoga rituals. Spending time with her husband, three adult children and the family pup is what keeps her grounded and feeling grateful each and every day.

Chika Oriuwa

Board Director

  • Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, where she was named the valedictorian of her graduating medical class in 2020. She is a physician, professional spoken word poet, public speaker, writer, and advocate for equity and collective wellness. Presently, Dr. Oriuwa is completing her residency in psychiatry at the University of Toronto where she aims to go on to complete further sub-specialist training in neuro-psychiatry. Dr. Oriuwa has served on a variety boards, using her expertise to influence their efforts in creating equal opportunity and curating spaces of wellness and artistic expression. She is a recipient of numerous prestigious awards and honors, including being recognized as one of Best Health Magazine's '2020 Women of the Year' and TIME Magazine's 2021 Next Generation Leaders. Additionally, Dr. Oriuwa was recently honored in Mattel’s #ThankYouHeroes campaign alongside five other women with a one-of-kind Barbie doll made in her image to commemorate her contributions as a frontline healthcare worker. Dr. Oriuwa is scheduled to release her first book, a memoir, with Harper Collins entitled ‘Unlike The Rest: A Doctor’s Story’  in October 2024.

Jean-Pierre Zeelie

Board Director

  • Jean-Pierre has dedicated more than a decade to working on programmatic responses to improve the lives of adolescents and youth, specifically including mental well-being, with a human rights-based approach. Previously, he lead the health and nutrition department for Save the Children Canada, representing one of the largest NGOs in the world focused on improving the lives of children and adolescents, notwithstanding their mental house.

    JP has 15 years of experience in public sector organizational strategy, technical leadership, program design, social and behaviour change communication, and piloting innovative programmatic approaches.

    His technical areas of specialization are in adolescent health, gender equality, economic empowerment, and health system strengthening.

    He holds a Master of Public Health (Health Economics) and is a BA Honours (Communications) graduate.

Asha BurryBu

Vice Chair

  • Asha Burry has held several roles in human resources and operations prior to her current role as Human Resource Leader for Owens Corning Canada. Currently, Asha oversees human resources for Owens Corning’s Canadian manufacturing, sales, pension and benefits departments, and also sits on Owens Corning Canada’ s pension investment and administration committees. Asha holds a master’s degree in economics and a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation from the Human Resource Professional Association (HRPA). Asha brings with her a breadth of experience as a pervious treasurer and general member for the HRPA Board, Durham chapter. In addition, through her work as a member of the Jill of All Trades steering committee, Asha pursues her passion for developing, coaching, and encouraging young women to explore career opportunities they otherwise would not have not considered. After spending many years running half marathons and sprint triathlons, when Asha is not spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog, you can find her swimming, reading, or working out.

Kathy Cunningham

Treasurer

  • Kathy Cunningham is the Chief Financial Officer at The Globe and Mail, where she is responsible for Strategy, Corporate Development and all aspects of financial management as The Globe and Mail focuses on its digital future. Kathy is also a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee of Boat Rocker Media Inc., a Toronto based independent, integrated global entertainment company.  Kathy is a CPA, and prior to joining The Globe and Mail, Kathy was Senior Vice-President, Finance at Sun Life Financial and before that, a partner at KPMG, where she held a variety of leadership roles. 

    Kathy has served as a Director for a number of private companies and not for profit organizations.  Most recently she was a member of the Board of Directors of The Macaulay Child Development Centre in Toronto, which provides essential services to more than 7,000 children and youth focused on promoting healthy child development and nurturing strong families.  Kathy was the Co-Chair of the YWCA Women of Distinction Committee (Toronto) and Treasurer for Sheena’s Place. Outside of The Globe and Mail, most of Kathy’s personal time is spent with her husband and children, who she is trying to keep up with on the ski hills.

    Why Unsinkable ? 

    Like so many others, I have had loved ones impacted by mental health and I am keen to contribute to Unsinkable, making a direct impact on Canadians’, particularly young people’s, well being.  Ensuring people feel they can discuss freely their mental health issues, and in doing so helping others around them, is a powerful model for change that I’m excited to be a small part of. Description text goes here

Dr. Andrew Howlett

Board Director

  • Dr. Howlett is a Psychiatrist and Head of the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Program at St. Joseph’s Health Centre - Toronto as well as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. He also works as an educator, administrator and researcher.

    Dr. Howlett co-founded the Fathers’ Mental Health Program (www.fathersmentalhealth.com). It focuses on the mental health of expectant and new fathers and is the first of its kind in Canada.

    Dr. Howlett is from Nova Scotia and now lives with his family in Toronto.

    He is thrilled to be a part of the Unsinkable Team.

Emmanuelle Sansfaçon

Board Director

  • Emmanuelle is collaborative leader who believes in rallying individuals around creative ideas and helping them realize their ability to change the world positively. Her focus areas are wellness and giving back to the community.

    Emmanuelle is currently the Senior Partnerships Manager for Dialogue (a virtual care provider). Emma has been championing all initiatives related to wellness and giving back to the community, from kids to environmental and social inclusion causes.

    Emma believes in the potential of digital-first mental health support and her ability to create connections to increase its reach.

    "Hardship has this ability to spark humanity and the storytelling focus of Unsinkable makes so much sense to me in a way to humanize access to mental health." - Emmanuelle

Theresa Jensen

Board Director

  • Theresa Jensen worked in several in-house legal roles at major corporations prior to entering private practice with Lampert LawGiC. She has a broad range of legal expertise, working on everything from corporate & commercial matters, to labour and employment, e-commerce and technology files, privacy and regulatory issues, as well as marketing and advertising. She attended law school at the University of Oxford, before completing her LL.M. at the University of Toronto, and being called to the bar in both Ontario and New York.

    Like so many during the pandemic, Theresa saw the firsthand the impacts on the mental health of friends and family, and the barriers that can exist to finding the right resources. Theresa believes in the power of storytelling and community connection, and the importance of increased access to mental health resources, particularly for young people. She has mentored countless articling students and new lawyers and deeply understands the importance of mental health in the workplace.

    Outside of work Theresa can most often be found outside exploring a new hiking trail, getting out into nature, and travelling to unique and interesting destinations.