Meet Our
Board Members
CHAIR
Carmen Wojda
Carmen Wojda is an addiction counsellor in private practice and Chair of the NEOVIA Wellness Foundation, passionate about supporting mental health and strengthening communities. Her clinical work provides firsthand insight into the challenges individuals face, shaping her approach to building meaningful, accessible programs.
She believes that when individuals are supported, communities grow stronger. Through both her practice and leadership, Carmen is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to move forward.
VICE CHAIR
Anastasia Cassanova Samms
Anastasia Cassanova Samms is a dedicated community leader with a deep commitment to social development and youth empowerment in Northern Alberta. With over 20 years of experience working alongside some of the region’s most vulnerable populations, she has served in a variety of frontline and supportive roles focused on care, connection, and advocacy.
Anastasia is a passionate mentor and peer support advocate who is committed to strengthening individuals and communities through guidance, encouragement, and lived experience. She is a strong advocate for mental health awareness, working to challenge stigma and promote greater understanding, compassion, and acceptance.
Through her work, she continues to support individuals navigating their mental health journeys while advancing community-based approaches to healing, resilience, and wellbeing.
SECRETARY
Elishia Doyle
Elishia brings over 20 years of business operations experience from large corporate organizations, with a strong background in operations, communications, documentation, and organizational support. Her extensive experience in administration and process management makes her a strong fit for her role as Secretary of NEOVIA Wellness Foundation, where she helps support board governance, meeting records, and organizational operations while advancing the Foundation’s mission to remove barriers to community mental health and social support services.
TREASURER
Julie Weir
Julie Weir serves as Treasurer on the Board of NEOVIA Wellness Foundation, dedicated to accessible support and community care. She contributes her organizational strengths, financial stewardship, and wellness background to help ensure NEOVIA’s programs remain sustainable, transparent, and grounded in real community needs.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Lucia Ruskova
Lucia is a Registered Social Worker with a specialized background in Indigenous social work and community advocacy. Throughout her career, she has witnessed the complex barriers from financial gaps to system navigation that prevent individuals and families from accessing essential supports. Currently specializing in provincial outreach and elder advocacy, Lucia brings a deep understanding of the diverse needs facing Albertans across the lifespan.
In her role as Communications Director, Lucia is passionate about sharing the vision of a world where equitable access to mental health support, education, and resources is a reality for everyone. She leverages her expertise in person-centered care to help build compassionate pathways that connect people with the right supports at the right time. Lucia is honored to serve on a board that is actively eliminating barriers and creating sustainable opportunities for personal and collective well-being. Outside of her professional life, Lucia is an avid traveler who loves experiencing different cultures. She also enjoys the hands-on creativity of furniture restoration, practicing hot yoga, and exploring local trails with her dog.
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING
Elaine Thomas
Elaine is a fourth-year Psychology student at the University of Alberta and currently serves as Director of Programming for NEOVIA. She is passionate about creating engaging initiatives that bring people together and foster a strong sense of community. In her role, she focuses on organizing events and opportunities that encourage connection, involvement, and shared experiences. She has a strong academic interest in psychology, with a particular focus on child mental health. She is actively involved in her community, volunteering with children and supporting initiatives that promote positive development and well-being from a young age. She values empathy, authenticity, and creating spaces where individuals feel comfortable and included. Outside of school, she enjoys playing guitar, working out, and spending time with friends.
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
KIKI CHAMBERS
Kiki Chambers is a board member of NEOVIA Wellness, a Child and Youth Practitioner, and an autism advocate known for her direct, systems-focused approach to mental health. With a background working in group homes, emergency shelters, and community-based services, she brings frontline experience into her leadership, grounding decisions in the realities faced by children, youth, and individuals with complex and often unmet support needs.
In both her professional and board roles, Kiki contributes a critical perspective on service gaps, accessibility, and the intersection between mental health. She is particularly focused on ensuring that supports extend beyond surface-level awareness and address the structural barriers affecting vulnerable populations.
Outside of her professional work, she has a strong interest in history and literature, particularly works by Homer, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Audre Lorde, reflecting an appreciation for complex narratives, philosophy and social critique.
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
ELIZABETH THOMAS
Elizabeth Thomas is an At-Large Board Member at NEOVIA. She is passionate about reducing barriers to accessing mental health support and helping individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered. In her work as a Registered Provisional Psychologist, she prioritizes genuine connection and takes a compassionate, empathetic, and client-centered approach to care, focusing on helping individuals navigate challenges and build meaningful lives. Elizabeth believes that growth is always possible when individuals have access to the right supports. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, exploring cafés, and learning new hobbies.
DIRECTOR OF
GRANTS & FUNDING
NATASHA FUNK
With over 20 years of operational expertise in policy writing and process management, Natasha brings a strategic and people-focused approach to organizational growth and sustainability. She loves watching people succeed! Currently, serving as a Manager of Operational Processes at her day job, she has extensive experience creating clear, effective frameworks that support both operational excellence and long-term success.
Natasha also has a background in marriage and family counselling, which has shaped her strong belief in supporting total wellness for both individuals and families. She is deeply aligned with NEOVIA’s mission and is passionate about empowering people with the tools, guidance, and opportunities they need to succeed. Whether through strategic planning or grant development she finds the greatest fulfillment in helping others grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND DEVELOPMENT
BREANN FITZPATRICK
Breann is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Counselling while serving as Director of Community Outreach and Development. In her leadership role, she fosters community partnerships, leads outreach initiatives, and supports the development of programs that strengthen access to mental health services and community-based supports. She is deeply committed to advancing equitable access to therapy and mental health resources, with a particular focus on ensuring individuals can access care at any stage of their journey. Breann is especially passionate about working with vulnerable populations and brings a trauma-informed lens to her practice. She has a strong interest in supporting individuals who have experienced trauma, emphasizing empathy, safety, and resilience in her approach. In addition to her professional role, she volunteers as a crisis support worker, where she provides immediate, client-centered assistance to individuals in distress. Through both her academic and applied work, Breann demonstrates a consistent commitment to mental health advocacy, ethical practice, and community well-being
DIRECTOR OF
FUNDRAISING & EVENTS
DREW KNOW
Drew is currently completing her Master’s in Counselling and is passionate about improving access to affordable mental health care for low-income individuals. With a background supporting adults with developmental disabilities, as well as individuals experiencing addictions, homelessness, and other complex barriers, she brings both compassion and firsthand insight to her work in the community.
Drew believes in equality for all and that everyone deserves access to meaningful mental health support regardless of income or circumstance. Through her involvement with the organization, she is dedicated to fostering more inclusive, supportive communities and environments where individuals can thrive. She believes that when people have access to meaningful support, communities become stronger and more resilient.
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES & RISK MANAGEMENT
BRAD VAN DER PUTTEN
Brad is new to the field of mental health, having recently completed a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Prior to completing the degree, he has been a first responder for 13 years, working as both a Primary Care Paramedic and a Firefighter. As he moves into a counselling career, he will have a focus on first responder mental health. Brad was involved with volunteering with NEOVIA throughout his practicum and has seen firsthand the benefits that this organization provides for the community, and as such has joined the board to further their goal of accessible mental health care.