Management Team
All Directors of Services, Managers and Program Supervisors work collaboratively towards making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Corporate Services
Chief Executive Officer: Sonia Pouyat email
Chief Financial & Operating Officer: Terry Smith email
Director, Marketing & Communications: Michael Hostetler email
Manager, Human Resources: Eranga Peduruarachchi email
Manager, Finance, Administration and IT: Isaac Kani email
Manager of Facilities and Procurement: Rosemary Klein email
Children's Mental Health Services & Early Intervention Services
Director of Services, Children's Mental Health: Laurie Robinson email
Director of Services, Early Intervention: Kevin Clouthier email
Manager, Child & Family Therapy: Barb Ward email
Manager, Partners and Zero2Six Programs: Kelly Schweitzer email
Manager, Intake and Assessment: Lesley Barraball email
Manager, School Treatment Program: Laura Bergeron email
Manager, Residential and Day Treatment Program: Lisa Leiher email
Manager, Early Intervention Services: Debbie Engel email
Manager, Risk Management: Peggy Humphries email
Supervisor, System Services: Karsten Buche email
Supervisor, Residential Treatment Services: Kevin Phillip email
Supervisor, Residential Treatment Services: Lynn Coleman email
Supervisor, Respite Services: Todd Nutbrown email
Supervisor, Preschool Support Services: Paula Brunkard email
We Were Children Once!
 |
Laurie Robinson
A Registered Social Worker with a background in both child welfare and children's mental health, Laurie came to kidsLINK in 2001 with over 20 years of experience in front line services, supervisory and management roles. She started her career as a youth worker in residential services and family support, moving on to clinical work after completing both Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Social Work at the University of Calgary. Prior to her current role at kidsLINK, Laurie was our Manager of Child and Family Therapy and the Assistant Director of our Children's Mental Health Services.
|
 |
Barb Ward
A Registered Social Worker, Barb holds a Masters of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has been a kidsLINK employee for over 15 years. Prior to joining kidsLINK, Barb worked at Family and Children's Services of Waterloo Region and Interfaith Counselling Centre in New Hamburg.
|
 |
Lesley Barraball
Lesley joined kidsLINK in 1999 as a Child & Family Therapist. When we launched our Partners Program in 2000, Lesley became the supervisor for this initiative. She then moved into her current role in 2005. Lesley is a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is a practicum instructor for Ontario social work schools. Her 12 years of experience in the children's mental health field include front-line work for Woodview Children's Centre in Brantford and the Ontario Social Assistance Program.
|
 |
Peggy Humphries
Peggy first came to kidsLINK in 1988 on a student placement. By 1990, she was a full time employee. Over the years, Peggy has held a number of positions within the agency in both our residential and school treatment programs. She became the Manager of our School Treatment Program in 2000. Peggy holds a Child and Youth Worker Diploma from Mohawk College and is a member of the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors. She is currently also a part time professor in the Child and Youth Worker program at Fanshawe College.
|
 |
Lisa Leiher
Lisa joined KidsLink in 2008 bringing with her over 14 years experience working with children and families. Lisa graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, moving on to complete a certificate in General Social Work at Renison College. She began her career as a frontline worker at a local shelter for abused women and their children. After completing a Master of Social Work degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in 1997, Lisa worked for over a decade, in both frontline and supervisory capacities, at Family and Children's Services of the Waterloo Region.
|
 |
Lynn Coleman
Lynn Coleman came to kidsLINK in 1997 to complete her child and youth worker placement. After completing her placement she joined the relief list. She has held a number of positions in the Residential Treatment Program and became Supervisor of in 2004. Lynn has attained a diploma in Child and Youth Care Work. She is currently completing a degree in Social Development Studies.
|
 |
Debbie Engel
Deb joined kidsLINK in 1989 and became the supervisor of her program in 2005. A graduate of the Child and Youth Worker program at Fanshawe College, she is now a Field Supervisor for students in this program. Deb is also a member of the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors. Her 18 years of experience includes prior positions at both Lutherwood and St. Monica House.
|
 |
Rosemary Klein
Rosemary graduated from Centralia College with a Diploma in Food Service Management in 1982. She started her career as a Food Service Supervisor at Henderson Hospital in Hamilton, before spending eight years at Cambridge Memorial Hospital as a Dietetic Technician specializing in nutrition-based diseases and special diets. Rosemary joined kidsLINK in 1998 as the agency's nutritionist. In 2007, she became the Support Services Supervisor. She is an active member of both the Canadian and Ontario Societies of Nutrition Management, and is a member of their Accreditation team.
|
 |
Todd Nutbrown
Todd joined kidsLINK as a Child and Youth Counsellor in 2004, and was named to his current position in 2005. His employment background includes work as a correctional officer at a federal penitentiary and as a child and youth care worker at two youth detention and treatment centres. Todd holds a Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation Management degree from Acadia University and a Correctional and Counselling Services diploma from Nova Scotia Community College. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Extend-A-Family in Waterloo Region.
|
 |
Sonia Pouyat
The CEO of kidsLINK since 1994, Sonia is a leader in the development of social entrepreneurship in North America, and has been instrumental in transforming kidsLINK into an enterprising non-profit that seeks to broaden its scope to assist more children, youth and families through sustainable initiatives and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining kidsLINK, she spent 10 years as the Executive Director of the Family Counselling Centre of Brant in Brantford, Ontario. Sonia sits on the board of directors of Children's Mental Health Ontario and is actively involved in several planning and advisory forums within the children's mental health field. She has a Masters degree in Social Work and post-graduate training in business leadership and executive management.
|
 |
Terry Smith
Terry joined kidsLINK in 2009, bringing with him more than 25 years experience in financial management. His previous roles include Chief Financial Officer at Crowe Foundry Limited, Vice President of Finance and Technology at World Access and Financial Management Director at Manulife Financial. Terry is a designated Certified General Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.
|
 |
Kevin Phillip
Kevin joined kidsLINK in 2007, bringing with him 14 years of experience working in youth services. As a high school co-op student, and again after graduating from college until he came to kidsLINK, Kevin worked with teens in custody at Ray of Hope. His last five years there were spent in management, as a supervisor at Hope Manor. Kevin holds a Law Enforcement Diploma from Seneca College.
|
 |
Karsten Buche
Karsten worked in the child welfare sector for two years after graduating from his Master's of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. Karsten is a Francophone from Montreal and worked as an "Intervenant Scolaire" in Eastern Ontario before joining kidsLINK in 2000 as a Child & Family Therapist. Karsten started on the management team as a supervisor in the Residential Treatment Program and was recently transferred to our Joint Initiatives where he supervises a walk-in clinic and the coordination of service systems. Karsten is also a Site Reviewer for Children's Mental Health Ontario.
|