Our people are passionate about your people.
The Power of Lived Experience
Mental Health Innovations (MHI) is built on the premise that lived experience is invaluable. We recognize that about 1 in 5 people in most organizations have some form of mental health experience. MHI uniquely embraces this, with nearly 100% of our population embodying lived experience, often a requirement for our roles.
Get started with MHI, today.
Our Leadership Team
Stéphane Grenier
Founder and CEO
Stéphane is an internationally known mental health innovator, advocate, speaker, author and entrepreneur.
In 2012, after successfully leading the development of a national peer support network for Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans and their families, being seconded to the Mental Health Commission of Canada to develop Standards of Practice for peer support, Stéphane founded Mental Health Innovations (MHI) to develop non-clinical mental health interventions as a compliment to traditional clinical care for all types of North American civilian organizations
In 2015, Stéphane was awarded an (honorary) Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Guelph and Humber College, for his contributions in the field of workplace mental health. In 2018, he was appointed to the Order of Canada and published his autobiography, After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture.
Lesile Bennett
Leslie is focused on supporting organizations that prioritize workplace mental health. She uses her skills and expertise to assist clients in addressing the issue of mental health in workplaces by implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, supporting organizations to create a workplace culture of compassion and designing and implementing social support (workplace peer support) programs within highly complex systems. Leslie focuses on eliminating barriers and supporting clients to build the case for a mentally healthy work environment. She is a volunteer working with people who have lived through mental illness.
When she’s not working with MHI, Leslie is still “re-humanizing workplaces” in other ways. She is the Canadian Regional Lead for The Stability Network– a growing movement of people living and working with mental health conditions and sharing their stories to inspire others to change how people think about mental health.
In 2007, Leslie made a life-changing decision to be open about her experience living with bipolar disorder. After concealing her mental illness for 10 years, she now speaks and speaks and writes about her journey through her LinkedIn profile. Leslie has a Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Ryerson University; Professional Coach Certification (PCC); is a CultureSync™ Approved Tribal Leader, Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor; and is also a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator.
Partner
Taryn Tang, PhD
Research and Evaluation
Taryn supports the vision and mission of MHI by developing strategic research partnerships and ensuring programs and services are consistently evaluated and achieve a high level of scientific integrity. She is committed to the advancement of evidence-based solutions for mental health challenges and is focused on integrating research and application to support the well-being of individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Taryn is a mental health entrepreneur, researcher, educator, and family caregiver. She has taught, given numerous presentations, delivered workshops, received grant support, and published on diverse topics in mental health.
She is an academically trained researcher who spent over 20 years leading and implementing research and evaluation programs in university, hospital and community settings, and social enterprises. Taryn holds a PhD in Applied Psychology from the University of Toronto and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
Lauren brings over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles within the healthcare sector. Passionate about delivering services that truly make a difference, Lauren is dedicated to empowering others through the power of peer support. She believes deeply in the ability to help individuals by leveraging their lived experiences to provide meaningful emotional and social support—especially through a peer who truly “has been there.”
Having spent the past decade of her career championing peer support, Lauren has developed and led innovative programs across a variety of settings, including first responder organizations, government agencies, and healthcare systems. Her expertise in designing, managing, and supporting these programs, as well as training hundreds of peer supporters, allows her to create impactful connections that provide hope and healing.
Lauren’s educational background includes being a licensed therapist with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, a Master of Health Services Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours.
Lauren Scott
Client Services
Véronique Grenier
Strategy and Planning
Véronique is deeply committed to making a meaningful impact in the world. Having been around MHI since its inception, she has seen firsthand the transformative effect it has had on individuals and communities. With a diverse background that spans project management, communications, public relations, and operations, she offers a unique combination of experience from the government, corporate, and consulting sectors.
Véronique’s passion for driving real change is rooted in her entrepreneurial spirit and her belief in the power of peer support to transform organizations. She is motivated by the challenge of expanding MHI's reach and impact by partnering with organizations and leaders who are not just talking about change but actively working to make it happen. With a deep understanding of the complexities of the mental health space, she is dedicated to ensuring that MHI's innovative approach continues to support as many people as possible. Véronique’s work is driven by her personal values and her unwavering belief in creating more humane, supportive environments to help people and organizations truly thrive.
Rhonda Gallant
Human Resources
With over 20 years of experience in HR and operations, Rhonda Gallant is a trusted leader known for building high-performing teams and fostering exceptional workplace cultures. She specializes in end-to-end people operations, including recruitment, employee engagement, performance management, and policy development. Rhonda has successfully partnered with executives to drive strategic initiatives that align organizational goals with talent strategies, ensuring sustainable growth and employee satisfaction.
Throughout her career, Rhonda has led HR transformations across corporate and start-up environments. She has designed and implemented comprehensive HR frameworks, managed recruitment operations, developed onboarding processes, and created policies that elevate the employee experience. Passionate about diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being, Rhonda champions initiatives that build connected, thriving teams.
Her ability to combine operational efficiency with human-centric leadership makes her a key asset in shaping progressive, people-first organizations.
Nicole Duggan
Operations
With a reputation for analytical thinking, strong project execution, and a solutions-oriented mindset, Nicole has become a trusted leader and is currently the Operations Manager at Mental Health Innovations. She leads impactful initiatives that streamline workflows and implement tech-driven solutions. Her project management experience encompasses client-facing responsibilities, stakeholder collaboration, and overseeing projects from proposal writing to final delivery.
Her career is distinguished by her ability to define operational requirements, implement innovative solutions, and support teams in dynamic, fast-paced environments. She has also held key roles in startups and freelance settings, further showcasing her adaptability and tech-savvy approach to problem-solving.
While passionate about optimizing processes, she is deeply committed to prioritizing people over systems, ensuring their impact is always carefully considered. Her time working with small, dynamic teams has instilled in her a strong belief in the value of supporting and empowering others to succeed.