Nicholas Watters is the Executive Director of the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions in Ontario, Canada. He assumed this role on October 8, 2024, bringing over a decade of leadership in mental health innovation and policy to the position.
In his current role, Nicholas leads the Knowledge Institute’s efforts to strengthen Ontario’s mental health and addictions services for children, young people, and their families. The organization focuses on mobilizing knowledge, improving quality, and working at the system level to enhance outcomes across the province.
Prior to joining the Knowledge Institute, Nicholas served as Director of Innovation at the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) from 2011 to 2024. During his tenure, he led multiple portfolios aimed at ensuring that those living in Canada have access to equitable, culturally safe, appropriate, stigma-free, and recovery-oriented mental health services and supports—when, where, and how they choose.
Nicholas is a member of the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) Global Leadership Council and Health Canada’s Digital Health Equity Working Group. In 2022, he received eMHIC’s Lifetime Achievement Award for e-mental health development, implementation, and forward-thinking leadership.
He holds bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Communication Studies from the University of Windsor, a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Institute of Business, and a Certified Health Executive designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
