Akela Peoples, MEd

Chief Executive Officer

Akela Peoples is pleased and honoured to be leading Mental Health Research Canada. She holds a master’s degree in education and executive leadership certificates from Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School, Western University’s Ivey School of Business and the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. A values-driven, impact-focused leader, Akela has twice received the WXN Top 100: Canada’s Most Powerful Women Award. She has also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Award for Entrepreneurship and the Paul Harris Award from Rotary International. Akela was also named one of Reach Out Together’s Top 25 Canadian Mental Health Leaders for 2026. 

Akela has a distinguished track record of strategically leading and successfully growing national charities. She is committed to building bridges and relationships to unify and strengthen communities and, indeed, Canada as a whole. She views collaboration and partnerships as important pillars supporting growth and impact in the charitable sector. In addition to impact, strategy and innovation are two key areas of focus in Akela’s leadership because she believes that a forward-looking perspective is critical to organizational success. 

Akela is community-minded and served on the Humber College Board of Governors for more than six years, including as Chair, Vice Chair and Chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. She is a world traveller who has ventured to all seven continents and more than 90 countries. Akela has also combined travel with her passion for community by volunteering in Chile and El Salvador with Habitat for Humanity to help build houses for people in need. 

She feels fortunate to have always done work she loves and is proud to live a life of contribution through her leadership roles and volunteer activities.