Debra Lefebvre is a multi-award-winning, trauma-informed registered nurse, psychotherapist, educator, and healthcare leader with more than 30 years of experience championing mental health equity. A passionate advocate for trauma-informed leadership, Debra brings a lens of compassion, safety, and empowerment to every level of care, policy, and system change. Her approach prioritizes understanding the impact of trauma while fostering environments rooted in dignity, trust, and collaboration.

Debra has led transformative work both nationally and globally, including the establishment of two groundbreaking initiatives focused on maternal and child health in remote fly-in Indigenous communities in Canada and developing nations. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to health justice and culturally responsive care.

Recognized for her expertise, Debra is a sought-after speaker, and serves as a recommended resource for Parents for Children’s Mental Health through Children’s Mental Health Ontario. She is also a published author, with her most recent contribution featured in the book Breaking Canadians, where she shares powerful insights into trauma, healing, and resilience.

Debra gives generously of her time through various volunteer roles and committees, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and the Pittsburgh Community Benefit Fund. As a mother to four young adults, her leadership is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience.

Debra is a firm believer in the power of partnerships, authentic engagement, and human connection as the foundation for healing-centered leadership.