THURSDAY 9:20 AM
OPENING KEYNOTE PANEL
MENTAL HEALTH: STORIES FROM UNSINKABLE
MODERATOR
Hailey Hechtman
Executive Director
Unsinkable
About the Speaker
Hailey Hechtman is a Canadian mental health leader, storyteller, and passionate advocate for person-centered, lived experience-driven programming.
With over a decade of leadership in the nonprofit sector, Hailey has dedicated her career to building more connected, compassionate systems of care. She founded the Yukon Distress & Support Line in 2014, led interagency disability inclusion efforts across Northern Canada, and championed inclusive employment initiatives rooted in dignity and accessibility.
As the Executive Director of Unsinkable, a national mental health storytelling organization founded by Olympian Silken Laumann, Hailey leads the evolution of a unified, scalable storytelling model that centers lived experience as a driver of connection, insight, and change. Through guided storytelling, amplification, and community engagement, Unsinkable supports individuals and organizations to engage with mental health in more human, relational ways. Hailey began her journey with Unsinkable as a storyteller, sharing her own experience before stepping into leadership.
About the Session
Vanassa Baptiste
Partnership
Unsinkable
About the Speaker
Venassa Baptiste is a dynamic, open‑minded professional dedicated to building connected, engaged communities across Ottawa and the GTA. Grounded in philanthropy and fiscal responsibility, she leverages her leadership experience and financial expertise to drive positive outcomes inside and outside the workplace. As a Business Commerce graduate from Carleton University and a registered Chartered Professional Accountant of CPA Ontario, Venassa brings disciplined financial acumen, thoughtful governance, and hands‑on audit experience to financially focused positions.
Beyond her client work, Venassa invests deeply in community: leading initiatives and programming that strengthen belonging, mentoring peers, and partnering with local organizations to expand access, opportunity, and arts engagement for her community. Through building her professional background in the public and private practice with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the RCMP, and IRCC, she tackles complex problems with creativity, rigour, and a people‑first mindset. Venassa works tirelessly to pair her strong analytical skills with an inclusive, community‑building approach to support the Black community in growing with meaning and growing together.
About the Session
Carole Dagher
In-House Legal
HomeEquity Bank
About the Speaker
With a proven track record in leadership, strategic counsel, and driving organizational success, I bring over 20 years of experience as a trusted and commercially minded legal advisor in various industries. Dual-qualified in New York and Ontario, I am known for my ability to align legal strategies with business objectives and deliver impactful results that empower the business. As a visionary leader, I have successfully led and managed diverse teams of legal professionals, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that promotes excellence.
About the Session
Michael Herman
Partner
Gowling WLG
About the Speaker
Until his recent retirement, Michael Herman was a Toronto-based business law partner at Gowling WLG. He also served as the firm’s General Counsel from 2014 until 2025.
With more than 45 years of experience, Michael was highly regarded as a strategic adviser to a broad range of clients, with a particular focus on entrepreneurial, privately held companies, mid-market private equity funds and investment institutions. He advised these clients on M&A, corporate development, corporate finance and other complex business matters.
Michael is a strong advocate for mental health and wellness at Gowling WLG and within the broader legal community. Through his ongoing work to raise awareness and eliminate stigma, he hopes to make it easier for anyone experiencing mental illness to come forward and seek help without fear of judgment.
As a mental health champion, Michael has spoken extensively and worked collaboratively with various organizations over the past several years. These include CivicAction, the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Ontario, Made of Millions Foundation, Unsinkable, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Conference Board of Canada. Michael is a contributing author to the groundbreaking book, The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in the Legal Profession, In September 2020, Michael joined the Board of Directors of the Institute for Advancements in Mental Health, a solutions-oriented charitable organization that supports, innovates and drives change for better mental health.
About the Session
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