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About Todd Leader

Todd Leader is a Registered Social Worker and was a Registered Community Psychologist for more than 20 years. He has spent his career since 1990 leading service development and transformation, particularly in the areas of mental health, addictions, health promotion, and primary health care.

He has also been teaching psychology in the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s University for the same length of time. He is a two-time recipient of Excellence in Teaching awards from the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association, and health services under his leadership have earned two International Best Practice awards, as well as a leadership award for Excellence in Women’s Health. He led the successful transformation of a mental health and addiction program to achieve the best wait times in Nova Scotia (down from 8 months to 1 month for adults, and from 5 months to 1-7 days for adolescents). His work has always been about real change, not just holding leadership positions.

Todd was appointed by the Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness to the Ministerial Panel on Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions, has been President of the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia and Vice President of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. In addition, as you will note on this website, he authored a book that is a how-to guide and a call-to-action for improving the mental health and addiction system…beyond the theory, and beyond the same old approaches used in the past.

Todd has learned a lot about leading real change, and has taught, coached, and mentored many people to become more effective leaders. He has learned about how to address the psychological underpinnings of an effective leadership team in order to achieve collective accomplishments that could not have otherwise been reached. He has learned how to develop inter-agency, inter-organizational, and inter-departmental partnerships that achieve synergy and deep collaboration, not just regular meetings and information-sharing.

If you want to move your team to the next level of real achievement as a leaders, to improve the effectiveness of your collaborative partnerships, or to transform your services to a new level of client-centeredness that is being demanded by the public, Todd can help. This is where the theory ends and real transformational leadership begins.

What people are saying about Todd

Todd is an excellent teacher and mentor. He lectures on real world leadership skills, and instructs how to facilitate change. As a professor, Todd takes the time to address individual students and coach them on how to grow as a leader.

Collette Robert
Vice President Equity & Wellness at Saint Mary's University Students' Association

Todd is one of the most humble people I know, and is a leader in every way. Not only does he lead others, he promotes leadership in those who want to become one and in those he sees potential in.

Meghan Symonds
Student at Saint Mary's University

Mr. Todd Leader is a pioneer in effectively empowering employee and student leadership abilities…he consults all of his students, individually empowering them to explore and actively engage in creating change beyond the classroom. Mr. Leader is a powerful changing force in the community, a leader, and an inspiring individual.

Sylvia Gawad
Account Manager at RBC

Todd Leader's strengths lie in his ability to develop self-agency and spark inspiration in every one of his students he teaches…shifting students thinking to systems-focused, using evidence-based practice, and fostering leadership skills, his students are not only inspired to change the communities they live in, but they have the tools to make an effective impact.

Nicole Hart
Youth Program Development

Todd is compassionate and client focused in such a unique way that embraces the determinants of health both from a micro as well as macro perspective, dissolving barriers that may restrict access. Todd is extremely insightful and knows how to motivate and lead staff, who may be part of his team. Any program interested in having a direct impact on improving the health for those requiring services, I highly recommend Todd Leader.

Gary Goodwin
Nicotine Addiction Treatment Specialist at South Shore Health-Addictions and Mental Health Services

Todd is a strong and influential leader with an exceptional ability to motivate. He is insightful, pragmatic and connected to the needs of the community. Todd is a champion of health promotion and of finding practical, long-term solutions to the challenges in the health care system.

Kate Johnston
Prevention & Health Promotion Specialist at IWK Health Centre

I highly recommend Todd for his dedicated and thorough work, conducted in a detailed and thorough manner. Todd is a committed team player exemplifying visionary thinking with an ability to project into the future.

David Walker
Mayor at Town of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

Todd is a transformative thinker. Todd's philosophy is to build community capacity. His strength is working with community partners to build upon community assets and assist the community to respond to gaps that may exist.

Janet Simm
President and CEO at Northwood Care Inc

Todd is a great leader with a great experience in mental health. Very dedicated to quality improvement and innovation.

Joseph Sadek
Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University

Todd is a true leader by definition. He is intuitive and has a tremendous ability to inspire and motivate people around him to be their best. He values and encourages innovation, progressive and strategic thinking and action. He has been a fearless leader and champion for positive change both within the healthcare system and communities. I am grateful not only to have had Todd as a Director but also as a mentor as I begin my own career path within Healthcare in Nova Scotia.

Erica Brooks
Health Promoter at Nova Scotia Health Authority