From: Mental Health Commission of Canada (Board Chair)
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Lili-Anna Pereša as our new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 9, 2025.
Mental health challenges are intensifying across Canada, and the rising demand for services and growing gaps in care are disproportionately felt among vulnerable populations.
“If there’s a thread woven through my professional journey, it’s to serve communities in the best way I can,” says Ms. Pereša. “The societal challenges we face are profoundly interconnected, and right now mental health problems and illnesses lie at the heart of many of them.”
Ms. Pereša brings decades of leadership walking alongside communities facing inequities. Her eight years at the helm of Centraide of Greater Montreal provided her with deep knowledge in advancing locally-driven solutions to complex social challenges. This commitment to social justice has also taken her around the world, from conflict zones to the Global South, lending an international perspective to her solutions-oriented approach.
“Each experience has reinforced what I’ve always believed, which is that communities themselves are the best problem-solvers,” explains Ms. Pereša.
This philosophy guided her most recent role as President and CEO of the McConnell Foundation, where she applied these principles to address community resilience, reconciliation, and climate change.
At McConnell, Ms. Pereša oversaw a $700 million endowment composed of responsible and impact investments, and she directed the Foundation’s annual $35 million in grants to address systemic social challenges. This financial and business acumen will be an asset to the MHCC as we scale successful programs like Opening Minds to transform workplace mental health practices nationwide.
With advanced degrees in management and political science, Ms. Pereša’s initial training as an engineer taught her to apply an evidence-based approach to difficult problems – a talent she has devoted to dismantling barriers in social systems. This essential skill will benefit the MHCC as we strive to redress structural inequities in access to mental health care.
What makes Ms. Pereša uniquely suited to lead MHCC at this critical moment is her commitment to what she calls ‘communityship’ – bringing diverse partners together to create collective impact. Her proven track record will help advance MHCC’s various initiatives, from suicide prevention to digital health.
As we move forward with this new organizational chapter, on behalf of the Board of Directors, leadership team and staff, I would like to thank outgoing President and CEO Michel Rodrigue for his dedicated leadership, and wish him the very best for his retirement.
After a comprehensive national search, the Board is confident that Ms. Pereša’s visionary leadership, global perspective, and collaborative approach distinguished her as the ideal leader to guide the MHCC forward. Under her guidance, the MHCC will continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact in service to the mental health and wellness of people in Canada.
Chuck Bruce CPA, CMA, C.Dir, CFP
Board Chair, Mental Health Commission of Canada
Contact
Media Relations
Mental Health Commission of Canada
media@mentalhealthcommission.ca
