A new leader means new directions for Health Nexus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto, October 29, 2009… The Board of Directors announces the appointment of Barbara Willet as the Executive Director of Health Nexus. The Board is excited to have Barb as the new Executive Director to lead Health Nexus in improving the health and well-being of people and communities in Ontario and across Canada.Health Nexus is a bilingual 25-year-old non-profit organization that specializes in developing health promotion capacity to enhance community well-being, and advocating for policies and resources that promote health. Many people working to promote health in their organizations and communities will recognize Health Nexus by its former name, the Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse.

“We’re honoured to announce Barb Willet as the new Executive Director for the organization,” says David Hay, President of Health Nexus and Chair of the Board of Directors. “Barb has worked in various capacities within the organization for more than 20 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and energy to lead Health Nexus in these times of enormous and rapid change.”

Barb has a Masters in health sciences with a specialty in health promotion. She has held several different positions over her career with Health Nexus, primarily in management. Barb has provided strategic leadership to the effective planning and delivery of a range of programs to public health, community health, social service agencies, and health care.

“I’m committed to ensuring that our services continue to be innovative, effective, and responsive to the changing needs of the organizations and people we work with, and that we make a significant contribution to the field of illness prevention, health promotion and population health,” explains Barb. “I’m both excited and fortunate to be able to work with a great team, and I look forward to meeting the challenges I’ve set for myself in my new role as Executive Director.”

The goals for Health Nexus currently include continuing to strengthen our collaborative efforts across Canada to advance health promotion and prevent chronic diseases; increasing our work with Aboriginal communities; taking action on health equity through exploring the determinants of health; supporting groups and organizations to strengthen community action; helping to develop public policy; and actively working to engage with the many sectors that are concerned about their communities’ health.

Visit us on the web at www.healthnexus.ca

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For more information, contact:
Melanie Ferris, Aboriginal Health Promotion Consultant
Health Nexus
m.ferris[at]healthnexus.ca
(416) 408-2249, ext. 2263