Meet Our Team
Asra Milani, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Asra Milani serves as the CEO of CMHE and is interested in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in mental health services. She holds a PhD in Counselling Psychology and received training through the Social Justice and Diversity Research Lab at McGill University.... She believes that everyone deserves appropriate care and resources to support their well-being.
Asra has extensive experience in program development and in improving service accessibility and utilization. Her leadership and community-based work are guided by social justice values. Asra leads the CMHE team in designing and delivering innovative programs that respond to community needs. She values building meaningful partnerships with communities and organizations and recognizes the importance of sound governance in strengthening organizational impact. In her free time, Asra enjoys reading Persian literature, writing poetic personal reflections, engaging in deep conversations, listening to music, singing in a choir, hiking, and spending time in nature. “Nature teaches me how to live in harmony,” Asra says.
Asra has extensive experience in program development and in improving service accessibility and utilization. Her leadership and community-based work are guided by social justice values. Asra leads the CMHE team in designing and delivering innovative programs that respond to community needs. She values building meaningful partnerships with communities and organizations and recognizes the importance of sound governance in strengthening organizational impact. In her free time, Asra enjoys reading Persian literature, writing poetic personal reflections, engaging in deep conversations, listening to music, singing in a choir, hiking, and spending time in nature. “Nature teaches me how to live in harmony,” Asra says.
Mina Didehvar, PhD Candidate
Board Director and Training and Development Lead
Mina Didehvar is a Board Director and Training Development Lead at CMHE. She leads the design and facilitation of culturally informed mental health training and curricula for adults and emerging adults from diverse backgrounds, integrating research, community engagement, and creative approaches in psychology. ...Mina is a PhD candidate in Counselling Psychology at the University of Calgary, with research focused on the mental health of the Iranian diaspora. She aims to bridge academic research and real-world mental health care to improve access and relevance of services for immigrant communities.
Starting from scratch in Canada as an international student profoundly shaped her understanding of the diverse and often perilous journeys people undertake in search of safety, authenticity, and basic civil rights, deepening her empathy for human vulnerability and guiding her work today. Through these experiences, she came to see individuals as a tapestry of identities, cultures, pain, and strengths, and views culture as a vital source of empowerment, connection, and healing, striving to co-create spaces that meaningfully value and integrate cultural stories. Besides work, nature, music, and art help her reset and maintain balance in both her work and life.
Starting from scratch in Canada as an international student profoundly shaped her understanding of the diverse and often perilous journeys people undertake in search of safety, authenticity, and basic civil rights, deepening her empathy for human vulnerability and guiding her work today. Through these experiences, she came to see individuals as a tapestry of identities, cultures, pain, and strengths, and views culture as a vital source of empowerment, connection, and healing, striving to co-create spaces that meaningfully value and integrate cultural stories. Besides work, nature, music, and art help her reset and maintain balance in both her work and life.
Shiva Zarezadeh-Kheibari, PhD
Board Director and Training and Development Lead
Dr. Shiva Zarezadeh-Kheibari is a Board Director and Training Development Lead whose work lives at the intersection of mental health, learning, creativity, and care. She leads the evaluation, design, and facilitation of culturally informed mental health training and curricula, with a focus on children and youth with special needs, integrating research, collaboration, and creative approaches to learning....Shiva holds a PhD in Psychology and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, with over a decade of research and applied experience in educational and community mental health settings, collaborating closely with diverse stakeholders to ensure training is grounded, relevant, and aligned with community needs.
She is driven by a deep belief that healing begins with being seen, and rooted in collectivist and Eastern ways of knowing, her work centers equity, dignity, and the lived experiences of children and adolescents—especially those from ethnocultural minority communities who are too often unheard. Shiva approaches life with curiosity and intention, finding meaning in mindfulness, art, nature connection, travel, and moments of deep, meaningful connection with friends and family—where presence itself becomes a practice.
She is driven by a deep belief that healing begins with being seen, and rooted in collectivist and Eastern ways of knowing, her work centers equity, dignity, and the lived experiences of children and adolescents—especially those from ethnocultural minority communities who are too often unheard. Shiva approaches life with curiosity and intention, finding meaning in mindfulness, art, nature connection, travel, and moments of deep, meaningful connection with friends and family—where presence itself becomes a practice.
Vida Goudarzi, MEd
Digital Designer and Content Creator
Vida is a Digital Designer and Content Creator at CMHE, working in mental health communication and community education. She designs posters and infographics, creates social media content, edits videos, and produces digital visuals, while also contributing to UI and website design....Her work focuses on clarity, accessibility, and visual storytelling. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from UBC, and her background in psychology strongly shapes how she approaches design and content creation. She has also led a UI design team for a Canadian educational website.
She is driven by the belief that everyone deserves equitable access to mental health resources and that thoughtful design can reduce barriers, build understanding, and support well-being. When she’s not working, Vida enjoys analog photography, exploring art exhibitions, and running around English Bay.
She is driven by the belief that everyone deserves equitable access to mental health resources and that thoughtful design can reduce barriers, build understanding, and support well-being. When she’s not working, Vida enjoys analog photography, exploring art exhibitions, and running around English Bay.
Robina Hamdard
Outreach Support Worker
Robina Hamdard is a member of the Outreach Team at the Centre for Mental Health Equity (CMHE) and a community leader, where she plays a vital role in connecting Afghan community members with culturally responsive mental-health services. With a background in law and administrative management, she brings strong organizational skills, advocacy experience, and a deep understanding of community systems to her work....
Robina works closely with Afghan newcomers to help them navigate the challenges of settling in a new country and accessing the support they need to thrive. As a respected community leader, she has built a wide and trusted network of Afghan women who face intersecting barriers related to gender, migration, and racialization. Through this network, she creates bridges between women and essential services, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed with care and dignity.
Outside of her professional work, Robina enjoys walking as a way to care for her physical and mental health, reflecting her belief in the importance of balance and self-care as foundations for well-being.
Robina works closely with Afghan newcomers to help them navigate the challenges of settling in a new country and accessing the support they need to thrive. As a respected community leader, she has built a wide and trusted network of Afghan women who face intersecting barriers related to gender, migration, and racialization. Through this network, she creates bridges between women and essential services, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed with care and dignity.
Outside of her professional work, Robina enjoys walking as a way to care for her physical and mental health, reflecting her belief in the importance of balance and self-care as foundations for well-being.
Amena Mayar
Outreach Support Worker
Amena Mayar is a member of the Outreach Team at the Centre for Mental Health Equity (CMHE) and a board member of the Afghan Cultural and Educational Society of Calgary. In her outreach role, she works to engage and connect members of the Afghan community to CMHE programs and services....
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Language, Literature, and Journalism and brings over seventeen years of experience in media, communications, and leadership. Her work focuses on supporting newly arrived Afghans in integrating into Canadian society and coping with challenges related to unemployment, cultural adjustment, and mental well-being, while helping them preserve their cultural values and traditions.
In her home country, Amena managed a women’s weekly newspaper and held senior roles, including assistant at the Centre for the Protection of Women Journalists, head of a district in Kabul, and member of several human-rights organizations supporting women, children, and journalists.
She is deeply committed to community service and finds fulfillment in supporting newcomers. In her free time, she follows news from Afghanistan, Canada, and around the world, and enjoys calm music and classical poetry.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Language, Literature, and Journalism and brings over seventeen years of experience in media, communications, and leadership. Her work focuses on supporting newly arrived Afghans in integrating into Canadian society and coping with challenges related to unemployment, cultural adjustment, and mental well-being, while helping them preserve their cultural values and traditions.
In her home country, Amena managed a women’s weekly newspaper and held senior roles, including assistant at the Centre for the Protection of Women Journalists, head of a district in Kabul, and member of several human-rights organizations supporting women, children, and journalists.
She is deeply committed to community service and finds fulfillment in supporting newcomers. In her free time, she follows news from Afghanistan, Canada, and around the world, and enjoys calm music and classical poetry.
Zahra Mohammadi
Outreach Support Worker
Zahra Mohammadi is a member of the Outreach Team at the Centre for Mental Health Equity (CMHE). In this role, she connects members of the Afghan community with CMHE programs and services, helping individuals and families access culturally responsive supports that promote well-being and successful settlement....
She has experience working in healthcare, community services, and multicultural support settings in Calgary. She has worked as a support worker for seniors and individuals with special needs, providing respectful, person-centred care and assisting with daily living activities to promote safety, dignity, and independence.
She holds a Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate from Calgary and a Midwifery Diploma from Iran, providing her with a strong foundation in healthcare, patient care, and medical ethics. She also works as a language interpreter and holds a Certificate of Translation in Mental Health Settings, supporting individuals facing mental-health challenges through accurate and culturally sensitive communication.
She has volunteered for several years as a language teacher for the Afghan community and is CPR and First Aid certified. She brings strong communication skills, cultural awareness, professionalism, and a genuine passion for supporting diverse communities.
She has experience working in healthcare, community services, and multicultural support settings in Calgary. She has worked as a support worker for seniors and individuals with special needs, providing respectful, person-centred care and assisting with daily living activities to promote safety, dignity, and independence.
She holds a Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate from Calgary and a Midwifery Diploma from Iran, providing her with a strong foundation in healthcare, patient care, and medical ethics. She also works as a language interpreter and holds a Certificate of Translation in Mental Health Settings, supporting individuals facing mental-health challenges through accurate and culturally sensitive communication.
She has volunteered for several years as a language teacher for the Afghan community and is CPR and First Aid certified. She brings strong communication skills, cultural awareness, professionalism, and a genuine passion for supporting diverse communities.