Across Canada, extraordinary people are working every day to improve mental health. Mental health organizations, philanthropy, policymakers, aligned networks, the healthcare sector, researchers, Indigenous communities, people with lived and living expertise, and private sector and community organizations are all making important contributions.
Yet the challenges continue to grow more complex.
Too often, we’re working alongside one another instead of with one another. We revisit the same conversations, tackle similar problems in different places and miss opportunities to build on what’s already working.
Knowledge stays in one place. Strong ideas struggle to travel. People and communities experience the gaps between systems.
The challenges are shared. The work is often disconnected.
Converge exists to help change that.
We are here to answer any questions that you may have.
Dr. Mary Bartram’s extensive experience in mental health and substance use health policy includes research, teaching, and program implementation in collaboration with federal and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations, and NGOs. Her research has focused on system financing, mental health and productivity, the mental health and substance use health workforce, harm reduction, and equity in access to psychotherapy. She is just completing a Visiting Scholar fellowship at McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy, and her previous roles have included CEO of Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services and Policy Director at the Mental Health Commission of Canada. A Registered Social Worker, Dr. Bartram also holds a PhD in Public Policy from Carleton University and an MSc in Family Therapy from Purdue University.
Quentin Broad, C. Dir is Vice-Chair of Echelon Insurance, chair of the investment committees at Echelon, CAA Club Group and CAA Insurance and serves on Converge Health and Michael Garron Hospital Foundation boards. After his “Bay Street” career, he was the CEO of Capitalize for Kids (C4K), a charity providing consulting services to kids’ mental health agencies across Canada. Prior to C4K, Mr. Broad worked at CIBC World Markets for 17 years in equities, leading the research & equity sales teams on a global basis. He has also held roles in investment and corporate banking and spent time in human resources. Mr. Broad holds an MBA and received the 2020 Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2011/12 IIAC Future Leader Scholarship Award at Wharton. He has been married for 36 years and has three wonderful children. He is a global Ironman competitor finishing 16 races including the Norseman Extreme Triathlon (2017) and Ironman World Championships in Kona (2022).
Lindsay Ayearst, PhD is a research psychologist and scientific strategist with more than 20 years of experience advancing evidence-based assessment and digital mental health innovation. Her work spans psychometrics, clinical outcome assessment, evidence generation, and the translation of research into practical tools and services.
Lindsay has held scientific and leadership roles, including Principal Scientific Advisor at Multi-Health Systems and Chief Scientific Officer at Revibe Technologies. She now works as an independent consultant, advising organizations and emerging companies on evidence strategy, measurement, scientific diligence, and responsible innovation. She has served as Associate Editor for two scientific journals and currently serves on the editorial board of several peer-reviewed publications. She is also the Founding Acting Executive Director of the Institute for Lifespan ADHD Training (ILAT).
Lindsay is passionate about connecting research, practice, and lived experience to advance mental health innovation that is both scientifically grounded and meaningful to the people it is intended to serve.