Speakers

Dr Mark van Ommeren 

Head, WHO Mental Health Unit, Dept of Mental Health and Substance Use

The work of the Mental Health, Brain Health & Substance Use Department at the World Health Organisation

Dr Mark van Ommeren is Head of the Mental Health Unit at WHO headquarters. Much of his early work focused on initiating and developing inter-agency humanitarian policy, clinical guidelines and protocols (eg mhGAP modules for primary healthcare), counselling interventions (eg individual and  group Problem Management Plus, EASE) and associated guides (eg Psychological Intervention Implementation Manual as well as the WHO/UNICEF EQUIP foundational skills’ competency monitoring tool); and supporting countries to build back better mental health systems after emergencies. To improve intersectoral collaboration in emergency settings he introduced the now popular term “mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)”.

He coordinated the writing of WHO's (2022) World Mental Health Report. He leads a WHO team that covers many aspects of mental health, including child and young people’s mental health; suicide prevention; mental health at work; services reorganization; integrated care; workforce development; psychosocial, pharmaceutical and digital interventions; MHPSS emergency preparedness, response and recovery; and epidemiology.

Born and raised in the Netherlands, he worked for five years for a WHO Collaborating Centre, living in Nepal and Fiji, before joining WHO. He studied at the University of British Columbia (BSc in statistics; MA in counselling psychology) and received a doctorate - on impact of torture on refugees in Nepal - from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (2000).

Dr Roberta Attard
Head of the Department of Counseling at the University of Malta
FSW Deputy Dean

Dr Roberta Attard, a seasoned Clinical Psychologist and Social Worker, currently serves as the Head of the Department of Counselling and Deputy Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta. With over 30 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to supporting children and young persons through therapy, education, and outreach. She is a consultant for various organisations, including NGOs and government agencies, and a founding member of the Safeguarding Committee within the Archdiocese of Malta. Her research interests are exploring innovative ways to investigate the human experience and promote wellbeing.

Topic: The Digital Dilemma: Counseling Children in a Wired World

Dr John Prysor-Jones

Dr John Prysor- Jones is a Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Registered, and Accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. A former lecturer in Counselling Psychology, with over 40 years’ experience in mental health settings in the UK as a Specialist Counsellor, and Psychotherapist, and in the voluntary sector. His has counselled in India and presented at many International Conferences. He is a former Secretary of the Executive Council of the International Association for Counselling. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, he lives on the edge of Snowdonia, with a Celts love of walking in the mountains, and swimming in the sea.

Topic: Hope Springs Internal! Experiencing Hope and Wellbeing in a Troubled World.

William A. Borgen, PhD, R. Psyc
President, IAC/Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia, July 2025

Dr. Borgen has extensive experience conducting research and developing programs regarding life transitions and career development. His work has been translated and adapted for use in Bhutan, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, and Sweden. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Umea for leadership in the development of counsellor education in Sweden (2005),  the Stu Conger Award for leadership in career development in Canada (2011), and the Outstanding Educator of Career Professionals award by the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (2020).  Dr. Borgen was President of the Canadian Guidance and Counselling Association (now Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association) from 1993-1995, and has co-chaired the Canadian Council for the Accreditation of Counsellor Education Programs since 2003; he was awarded honorary life membership in 2001. . He has actively promoted the accreditation of Counselling Psychology doctoral programs, becoming a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association (2018)..  He also served on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (2011 – 2019).

Dr. Borgen is President of IAC, elected in 2019, He previously served in that role (1998 -2006), and was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in 2006. Dr. Borgen has been involved with ethics all of his professional career. He and Dr. Nathan Peron co-authored the Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Professional Counsellors in 2023. Agreeing to the Declaration is required for all IAC members.  In 2023, he co-edited Ethics In a Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Context with Dr. Michael Sorsdahl and Dr. Roberta Borgen.

Vincent Caruana’s mission in life is to inspire people to take action for a better self and a better world. In 2014, he obtained his PhD, focusing on education for sustainability and the social economy, through four case studies, in Egypt, Malta, Italy and Palestine. Vince is currently the Director of and a full-time lecturer and researcher at CEER-Malta & University Centre for Environmental Education and Research. He is active in the Social and Development scene locally and at a European level and is an established mentor, trainer and evaluator for various organisations.

As our planet faces unprecedented environmental shifts, the profound psychological and emotional tolls of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, presenting a new frontier for the counselling profession. The Malta Declaration on Climate-Responsive Counselling emerges as a pioneering commitment, recognizing the urgent need for mental health practitioners to integrate climate awareness and resilience-building into their therapeutic frameworks. This groundbreaking declaration outlines a holistic approach, empowering counselors to address eco-anxiety, climate grief, and the myriad psychological impacts of environmental instability, fostering adaptive coping strategies and promoting well-being in an era of ecological transformation.

Born from a collaborative spirit and deep concern for our collective future, the Malta Declaration invites mental health professionals, policymakers, and communities worldwide to embrace a proactive stance. It champions the development of innovative training, ethical guidelines, and practical interventions that equip counselors to support individuals and communities navigating the complexities of a changing climate. Join us in embracing this critical initiative, as we collectively work towards a future where mental health support is inherently responsive to our planetary well-being, building a resilient and hopeful pathway forward for all.

Lynne Gabriel, OBE
Professor of Counselling & Mental Health
President, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Co-Chair, York Mental Health Partnership
Founder & Patron, York St John Communities Centre

Lynne is Professor of Counselling and Mental Health at York St John University, York, UK. She is a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Accredited and Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist, and a Fellow of the Association. Originally trained in mental health nursing, Lynne undertook counsellor training and advanced research programmes, then moved into facilitating practitioner development courses and professional consultancy. Lynne’s work has involved complex leadership roles within higher education, the helping professions, and mental health. Lynne is also a trained supervisor, with extensive experience of working with counselling, mental health and allied health professionals.  Within the UK, Lynne is involved locally and nationally in the evolution of 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres and associated provision of accessible community-based wellbeing and social care services.  In 2016, Lynne founded the York St John Communities Centre to provide accessible therapies and wellbeing services and to innovate a range of projects focussed upon communities’ needs.  Today, Lynne continues to support the Centre as its Patron. In 2023, Lynne was appointed as President of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and continues to actively contribute to national and international evolution of the counselling and mental health professions.

Lynne's research interests include public mental health, relationship abuse, approaches to ethics for counselling and allied professions, group interventions for bereavement, loss and trauma, and the use of standardised mental health measures in counselling and psychotherapy.   Lynne has published books on ethics in practice and research papers on multiple aspects of work within and through the counselling professions.  Lynne works with co-editor Professor Andrew Reeves on the Ethics in Action series for Routledge and they recently published Navigating Relational Ethics in Day-to-Day Practice (Gabriel & Reeves, 2024; Routledge). 

George Maringapasi
President of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

George Maringapasi is a former stand out Olympic Solidarity and NCAA Division 1 Scholar Athlete for his native Zimbabwe and for St. John’s University in New York. After his track and field career, he spent over 15 years providing collaborative, culturally-responsive, community-based services to diverse populations including First Nations, African Canadians and Newcomers to Canada in a broad range of settings from remote northern First Nation communities, to rural, urban, and inner-city settings. Since coming to Canada in 2006, George’s work has spanned the lifespan, including facilitating anti-bullying workshops, FASD work, family support, and community- based case management. Currently, he is a Clinical Therapist with the NSHA and works in private practice in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. George believes in leadership through service and can be often found volunteering his time to learners, mentoring young athletes, participating in local festivals, and coaching. George completed education and leadership preparation programs at St. John’s University and Acadia University

Roberta Borgen (Neault), PhD, CCC, CCDF
President of Life Strategies Ltd.

Dr. Roberta Borgen is an award-winning author, speaker, researcher, career counsellor, and counsellor educator with over four decades of relevant experience, across 6 continents and more than 75 countries. Roberta's strengths lie in her professionalism, infectious enthusiasm for empowering individuals and organizations, and "hands-on" experience working with diverse groups of people. Currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Asia Pacific Career Development Association, as a regional correspondent for the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance, and on the National Certification Advisory Committee for Career Certification in Canada, Roberta has received several international awards for her contributions and leadership. Roberta speaks, consults, and writes extensively on ethical practice and has developed/instructed several ethics courses. She co-edited CCPA’s 2023 ethics textbook, Ethics in a Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Context.

Nate Perron, PhD, LPC (WI), LCPC (IL), LCMHC (NH), NCC

 Dr. Nate Perron serves as the Director of Affiliated Faculty & Instruction, and Clinical Associate Professor in the Masters of Arts in Counseling program of The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Dr. Perron holds a PhD in counselor education and supervision and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin, with equivalent licenses in Illinois and New Hampshire of the USA. Dr. Perron has served in professional counseling since 2005, and has taught undergraduate and graduate students in counseling, psychology, and human services since 2008. Other areas of active research and practice include international counseling, first responder wellness, crisis and trauma recovery, child and adolescent counseling, and faith integration in counseling. Dr. Perron has served with multiple areas of leadership in the counseling profession, including his role as the Secretary on the Executive Council of the International Association for Counselling (IAC), former chair of the International Committee of the American Counseling Association (ACA), and advanced international trainings through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Dr. Perron has also served on boards and committees focused on mental health and public service needs, including Nationwide Chaplain Services (NCS), community emergency response departments, and other various programs. Recent leadership opportunities have led to collaborations and direct involvement with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), along with opportunities as a regular keynote speaker for the International Turkcess Education and Social Sciences Congress in Türkiye over the past several years.

Michael Sorsdahl, PhD (Educ), PsyD (cand), R.Psyc, CCC, RCC, GCDF
President Juvenation Wellness Inc./ CCPA Chairperson Ethics Committee – Complaints Division

Dr. Sorsdahl is a registered psychologist with a MA in counselling psychology, a PhD in Education with a focus on counselling, and is currently a PsyD candidate in Clinical Psychology. He has over 20 years of experience in individual, group, family, and couples therapy, specializing in PTSD, career coaching, LGBTQ2+ support, and life transitions. Dr. Sorsdahl comes with a 25-year career of military service in the Royal Canadian Navy, where he commanded two Canadian warships and served as the Deputy Commandant of the West Coast Naval School. Dr. Sorsdahl is a counsellor educator, has served as the president of the Counsellor Educator and Supervisor’s chapter of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and has taught at several universities including the University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, and University of Lethbridge. He has presented at both international and national conferences on mental health, PTSD, and trauma.

Dr. Sorsdahl voluntrers as the CCPA chairperson of the Ethics Committee – Complaints Division since 2018 reviewing ethical complaints placed against the association’s membership. In 2023, he co-edited the textbook Ethics In a Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Context along with Dr. Bill Borgen and Dr. Roberta Borgen to bring practical application to the ethical codes provided by the association to improve ethical practice of counsellors/psychotherapists in Canada. He has also focused his most recent research on ethical issues in psychology and psychotherapy practice, with the intention of improving and updating ethical codes, standards of practice, and ethical training and education.