Director, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships

Sheldon Mellis has worked in the non-profit sector for over six years to design, develop and deliver mental health-based programs and research to respond to the needs of diverse groups. 

Sheldon has extensive experience engaging communities, organizations and people with lived and living experience to collaborate and partner on mental health initiatives across Canada. Most notably, he led a project team at the Mental Health Commission of Canada to invest $10M to research the risks and benefits of cannabis use and mental health. In addition, he led initiatives to destigmatize mental health in the workplace, advance e-mental health awareness and implementation for mental health professionals including users and utilize evidence-based data to communicate and inform policy, programming and funding decisions to improve mental health outcomes of racialized and equity seeking communities.

Sheldon serves as a Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support. He is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a BA, Politics and Governance as well as Algonquin College in project management studies.

During his free time, you will find Sheldon playing volleyball, thrifting cookbooks to try out new recipes or catching a flight to his next travel destination.