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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

​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.

Rachelle is currently in her first year of ISWD, beginning her journey in social work with a strong commitment to building meaningful relationships between sponsors, donors, and the communities they support. Her goal is to ensure that every contribution creates a lasting and positive impact, rooted in trust, transparency, and genuine connection.

Rachelle brings strengths in communication, community engagement, event planning, and advocacy for individuals. She is passionate about developing initiatives that give back to the community while uplifting individuals and strengthening collective well-being. Through storytelling and relationship-building, she aims to highlight the real impact of support and ensure contributors feel meaningfully connected to the difference they are making.

Outside of her studies and work, Rachelle serves as a youth advocate and community representative in Dene Tha’ Treaty 8 territory. She remains actively involved through volunteering and community engagement. She also enjoys gym fitness, traditional beading and sewing, creative work, hiking, and swimming—activities that keep her grounded in both wellness and culture.

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.

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.