MINDFULNESS STUDIES - Key Persons
Jennifer Boucher currently manages the Integrated Palliative Care Program at Toronto Central Home and Community Care Support Services. She is passionate about home and community health care and specifically palliative care and mental health support programs that support patients to live with dignity and quality of life in their homes and communities.
Jennifer is a health sector professional with over 20 years of experience leading large-scale, strategic change in multi-stakeholder environments. Jennifer has managed integrated, interdisciplinary programs, projects, and multi-sectoral/stakeholder initiatives to improve patient and caregiver experience. As a management consultant, she has provided consulting services to numerous organizations including the Ministry of Health, Local Health Integration Networks, and other health sector organizations.
Jennifer has been a meditation practitioner since 2010 and participates in silent retreats throughout the year to further her Buddhist practice. She has the honour of being the Centre's first volunteer back in the first year of operation. Jennifer has a Masters degree in Information Studies from the University of Toronto and is the President of the University of Toronto Faculty of Information Alumni Association.
Kim is the Community Program Lead at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies, where she develops and facilitates mindfulness programs tailored to community needs. She also teaches professional development courses for mindfulness-based teachers-in-training. Her work at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies extends internationally, partnering with organizations in the Philippines and China to make mental health support more accessible. As a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, she integrates evidence-based, trauma-informed, and client-centred approaches into her practice.Kim holds a master's degree in clinical psychology and certifications in MBCT, MBSR, MSC, CBT, and DBT. With over five years of experience providing mental health support, Kim works with youth, adults, and seniors experiencing depression, anxiety, isolation, burnout, and stress-related conditions.
Job Titles:
- Certified Coach
- Director, Community Program
Marija D. Miskovic is a goal-oriented professional with over 15 years of international experience in developing and leading impactful initiatives across community, government, and cultural sectors. She holds dual master's degrees in project management and anthropology, underscoring her comprehensive approach to leadership. Her career, largely dedicated to the non-profit sector, reflects a deep commitment to advancing human rights, empowering youth, promoting social justice and mental health, and building civil society capacity.
Marija has been working with the Centre for Mindfulness Studies since 2014. As Director of Community Program, she has spearheaded the development and launch of numerous projects that deliver essential mindfulness-based mental health services and training to underserved and at-risk communities across Canada. Her expertise in program design and development, strategic planning, grant writing and stakeholder relations fuels her passion for building collaborative partnerships and delivering mindfulness-based programs to a wide range of audiences.
Marija is also a certified coach specializing in personal and professional development, committed to empowering clients to achieve meaningful change in their lives, supporting their career progression, facilitating goal setting, and enhancing leadership skills.
Soussan Tabari has led the modernization and digitization of over 100 lines of business in 6 Ontario government ministries covering the spectrum of lifelong learning from Child Care to K-12 (Ministry of Education), to Post-Secondary Education (Ministry of Colleges and Universities), as well as Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Sports and Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as the Information and Information Technology (I+IT) Assistant Deputy Minister/Chief Information Officer (CIO).
The focus of Soussan's leadership has been to transform and modernize user-centric, public policy programs and services through digital opportunities. She initiates innovation and facilitates collaboration between policy and technology expertise to co-design new and modern business models.
Soussan received an individual 2015 Amethyst Award in the category of Leadership and 2 Amethyst awards for innovative projects.
Soussan completed the Executive MBA Program at Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western, London, Ontario. She holds a Master of Science in Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom, and an honours Bachelor of Science in Oil and Gas Geology from the University of Tehran, Iran.
Job Titles:
- Interim Executive Director
Tim Burns is a highly motivated professional with expertise in organizational leadership, strategic planning, policy, performance measurement, and program design; results-oriented; innovative with strong research and analytical skills; effective team leader, relationship builder, and change manager; proven ability to adapt and execute. Tim's work spans several years in the healthcare sector, specifically long-term care. He has recently worked as an Administrator with the City of Toronto and has extensive experience working as a Special Advisor and director to Health Quality Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.