The CASW Board of Directors determines and oversees general and financial policies. With each provincial/territorial partner organization appointing one member to the Board, a unified voice for the Canadian social work profession is assured. The Board of Directors works from a national and, indeed, an international perspective to benefit the social work profession.
Provincial/territorial input into the deliberations of CASW is guaranteed through an Annual General Meeting between the CASW Board and Provincial/Territorial Presidents.
Barb Whitenect, President
After obtaining a BA (Criminology) and a BSW at the University of New Brunswick and Saint Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B., Barb obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work from Carleton University in 1992. A native New Brunswicker, she has dedicated most of her career to the field of mental health, working as a Clinician, Manager and Regional Director in both rural and urban settings. In 2002, she became provincial Director of Child and Youth Addiction & Mental Health Services and, in 2007, assumed the role of Executive Director for Addiction and Mental Health Services with the Department of Health. She was very pleased to transition from Department of Health to Department of Public Safety in January 2014, taking her back to her early career development. Since her move to Justice and Public Safety, Barb has been Assistant Deputy Minister of Safety Services and with the re-organization and merger of Justice and Public Safety she has assumed the responsibility of Assistant Deputy Minister of Community Safety, having responsibility for Community and Corrections services, Crime Prevention, Motor Vehicle, Liquor Gaming and Security as well as Provincial Firearms. Barb finished her career as Assistant deputy Minister of Children, Family and Senior services at Social Development, and has lectured on a part-time basis at Saint Thomas University.
Barb is a proud Social Worker and has served as President of the NBASW and has taken leadership roles on several international social work committees through the Association of Social Work Boards.
While Barb relaxes in her spare time on the golf course, it is the ferry ride to her home on NB’s Deer Island that most contributes to her positive mental health and sense of wellness.
Rasheal Charles, Vice-President
Alberta (SWAA)
Rasheal is an experienced Social Work Mental Health Therapist with a Masters in Social Work and diverse leadership experiences within healthcare, social services and education. In her current role as a Director at Covenant Health, she makes time for leadership with the Social Work Association of Alberta, building her private practice and serving as a Sessional instructor at MacEwan University and the University of Calgary.
Rasheal is a relationship centered person with a passion for social justice, leadership, spirituality and volunteerism. She is an engaging speaker, collaborator and passionate advocate for whole person health and values-based practices especially within the Black and racialized communities.
Glenda Webber, Treasurer
Newfoundland & Labrador (NLCSW)
Glenda holds both a Bachelor of Social Work (1992) and a Master of Social Work (1995) from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (MUNL). She also holds the Certified Health Executive designation through the Canadian College of Health Leaders (2020).
A Registered Social Worker in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Glenda has been a practicing social worker for 30 years in the field of mental health and addictions, in both clinical and managerial roles. She has also taught as a sessional instructor at MUNL for 10 years. Glenda currently serves in an executive leadership position with Eastern Health, the largest health authority in the province. Glenda’s portfolio includes responsibility for the mental health and addictions program, correctional health services, pastoral care and ethics, virtual care, and infection prevention and control.
After 7 years on the Board of Directors with the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers (NLCSW), Glenda finished her term in the office of president in 2020 (president elect, president and past president). Glenda was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Association of Social Boards (ASWB) for a two year term as Director at Large, Licensed Social Worker.
Joan Davis-Whelan, Past- President
Joan is a graduate of Memorial University, completing her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1979, and her Bachelor of Social Work in 1981. She completed her Master of Social Work in 1992. She has certificates in Discharge Planning, Leadership Development, Quality Management and Ethics.
Well known in the Social Work community, Joan has experience in clinical practice including Adult and Child Mental Health and Addictions, Family Violence, Oncology, Palliative Care, Dermatology, Medicine, Nephrology, Surgery, Emergency/ Trauma, Women's Health and Child, Youth and Family Services. She has worked in Quality and Risk and in Human Resources –Organizational Development.
She has been involved with several community boards and committees including Canadian Mental Health Association, Addiction Treatment Services Association, PREP and ACCESS. She was a member of the provincial working group for the clinical review 2008 of Child, Youth and Family Services. Joan has presented on various topics including grief and loss, team dynamics, change management and social work practice. Her areas of interest include social work competencies and education, leadership, clinical services, ethics and evaluation.
Salina Fukumoto
Manitoba (MCSW)
Salina is a registered social worker and received her MSW and BSW from the University of Manitoba. Salina’s qualitative MSW thesis study explored the caregiving and bereavement experiences of palliative care caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Salina’s MSW coursework focused on leadership, management and policy in social work. Salina is passionate about health equity and advocating for a health care system that is safe, equitable and accessible for all. She is currently working on her CHE- Certified Health Executive designation with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Salina currently works for Shared Health which is the provincial health authority in Manitoba. She is the Provincial Clinical Services Consultant- Cancer and Palliative Care. In this role, she leads and supports various projects and inititiaves in the areas of cancer and palliative care and she supports palliative care education provincially. Prior to her current role, she worked as the Palliative Care Social Worker and Social Work Lead at Riverview Health Centre. She previously served a 3-year term as a board member with Aurora Family Therapy Centre where she held positions of Chair as well as Vice Chair. She is currently on the Executive for the Manitoba College of Social Workers and serves on a number of committees.
Lorry-Ann Austin
British Columbia (BCASW)
Lorry-Ann is an Assistant Professor and Chair of the School of Social Work and Human Service at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) where she has been teaching since 2013. She is a former broadcast journalist who was inspired to pursue social work by the social justice champions she had occasion to interview. Lorry-Ann obtained her BSW from TRU in 2007 and was the recipient of the President’s Medal in Social Work. After registering with the BC College of Social Workers, she commenced work in the healthcare sector, specializing in child and youth mental health. In 2012 she completed her MSW thesis at the University of British Columbia, focusing on civic responses to the street sex trade as evidenced in local press coverage. In 2025, Lorry-Ann successfully defended her doctoral dissertation which engaged a comparative analysis of the news media’s role in polarization, democracy, and the advancement of human rights in Canada and the USA.
As a registered social worker and critical social justice educator, Lorry-Ann’s practice centres ethical leadership, equity, and collaborative governance. Her research explores the purpose and function of the press in democratic contexts and their ability to foster civil discourse and advance human rights. She additionally explores the politicization of post-secondary institutions and their response to global issues.
Lorry-Ann is deeply committed to promoting the profession and ensuring social work education prepares the next generation of social justice champions. Her service work includes acting as a Commissioner on the CASWE-ACFTS Commission on Accreditation. She has also been the Thompson Nicola representative on the BC Association of Social Workers’ Board since 2019. Lorry-Ann is the President of the Board of Directors for A Way Home Kamloops Society, a non-profit that aims to end youth housing instability. Her joys come from family, food, travel, books, and her two dogs Birdie and Ruby.
Ruth Ann Thomas
Saskatchewan (SASW)
As a Registered Social Worker, I have had the privilege of working with every age group from newborn to seniors and palliative clients in many different settings. I am presently providing mental health counselling. I look through the lens of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Work to provide support, guidance and healing for my clients. I have a long history of being involved with my professional association. I know this involvement has made me a better social worker. I’m proud to be a social worker. Many days I say “I have the best job in the world and also the hardest”.
Bruce Davison
Prince Edward Island (PEIASW)
Bruce Davison has been a practicing social worker in Prince Edward Island since June of 1996. Bruce is a graduate of the University of Prince Edward Island and Wilfrid Laurier University. He has practiced as a clinician and manager in areas ranging from mental health and addictions, collaborative mental health in primary care, corrections, young offenders, family violence prevention, health care risk reduction and quality improvement, foster care and adoption, and child protection. Currently, Bruce is the provincial Program Development Lead in Primary Care and Chronic Disease with Health PEI. He is also the clinic social worker for Health PEI's Gender-Affirming Clinic.
Bruce lives in Charlottetown and has been an active volunteer in the Canadian Federation of Students, the UPEI Student Union (Interim President) , the Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Student's Association (Chair), the Prince Edward Island Association of Social Workers (President) , the UPEI Alumni Association (President), The UPEI Board of Governors, the PEI Union of Public Sector Employees, the PEI CISM Network (Chair), the Air Cadet League of Canada (President), and ADHD-PEI. Bruce is currently a RCAF reservist, a Cadet Instructor Cadre officer with a Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in PEI.
Bruce and his spouse, Shannon, live in Charlottetown. They have two amazing adult daughters and two cats.
Ezra Wexler
Nova Scotia (NSCSW)
Ezra Wexler MSW RSW graduated from the Dalhousie School of Social work in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he was born and raised. During and after his education he worked as a researcher in the field of elder abuse and neglect, wherein he co authored several papers and a book alongside his Masters Thesis which focused on self-neglecting older adults.
Ezra has volunteered on the council of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers continuously since 2010 where he has held the title of Regional Representative for Halifax, Vice President, President and is currently Past President. He is proud of the work the college has done these past 13 years and the roles he has had within it.
Ezra is the Executive Director of a disability support agency, Community Living Centres, where he strives to support individuals towards meaningful inclusion in their chosen communities. The organization operates individualized programs for people with a variety of lived experiences, specializing in those with psychiatric and developmental diagnosis. Walking the winding path with those he supports brings him joy and inspiration.
Outside of social work Ezra maintains several hobbies and interests. He is a singer-songwriter, choir director, model painter, scuba diver, traveller, and dungeon master to name a few. He believes that by intentionally enriching his own life he broadens his capacity to help others on their journeys towards good lives of their own.
Dr. Christina Mills
Ontario (OASW)
Christina brings over 20 years of rich, diverse, and skilled experience to her clinical work; particularly in the area of health and mental health. She has practised in critical care, as well as community based mental health programs.
Since 2009, Christina has practised privately. She owns, and is the Director of, Social Work Solutions Canada. Working for many years under the Statutory Accidents Benefits regime in Ontario, Christina, has also provided expert medical-legal reports in this area.
Christina received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University, a Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University, NS. and a PhD in Social Work through Memorial University, NL.– specializing in trauma and bereavement.
She has held numerous, sessional faculty appointments providing professional training to undergraduate and graduate social work students and presents often on varied mental health topics.
Raised in a military family, Christina’s passion for supporting Canadian Forces and Public Safety Personnel led her to develop specialized skills in this area and formed the basis for her doctoral work on wartime bereavement. Currently, she is a proud partner of the Garnet Families Partnership Research initiative.
Christina values her profession and serves on the provincial board of the Ontario Association of Social Workers, a position she previously held for six years.
Her joy comes from time with her large, blended family, inclusive of ten children.
Kelly Cooper
Northern Canada (ASWNC)
Kelly completed her Criminal Justice Diploma from Mount Royal College in Calgary in 1979 and worked for 4 years with the Alberta Solicitor General as a probation officer. After she married, she moved to the Yukon in 1986 and she completed her BSW from the University of Regina (via Yukon College) in 1999. Kelly was employed with the Territorial Department of Justice as a probation officer and later as a victim services worker.
In 2006, she transferred to the Department of Health and Social Services to operationalize and manage the newly mandated Seniors’ Services/Adult Protection Unit. There she was involved with emergency measures, policy development and supporting Ministers at the F/P/T Seniors Forum. Kelly has also taken project-based secondments with the Victims of Crime Compensation program; to income test a seniors’ grant and co-lead a review of community home care.
Kelly retired from government in 2020 and continues to instruct the University of Regina’s Social Work and Aging course through Yukon University. Kelly was a Director with the Yukon Status of Women’s Council for over 14 years. She has held roles with the Association of Social Workers of Northern Canada since 2018 and became a CASW Board Member in 2022. Kelly feels fortunate to have raised her children in the north and appreciates the beauty and cultural diversity. She remains committed to reconciliation and social justice issues.
Geraldine Poirier Baiani
New Brunswick (NBASW)
Géraldine Poirier Baiani is a Registered Social Worker with the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers, a graduate of the Université de Moncton, the Advanced Leadership Centre at the Niagara Institute and the Executive Management program at Queens University. She started her career in Child Protection and worked in many programs as a frontline Social Worker, Supervisor, Manager and Regional Director until she retired as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Department of Social Development. After a successful career, she drew on her 35 years of experience to write about some of the achievements, programs, and services she led while in government. Several articles on Family Group conferencing were published in journals between 2014-2020. She represented the NBASW on the Canadian Social Work journal Editorial Board. She has been a member of ASWB’s DEI&J committee, a speaker at their Education conference and presently serves as Treasurer on the Board. She was elected President of the NBASW in June 2019, served as chair of the By-laws committee as they implemented the control of title and practice of Social Work technicians.