Kathy Hay

CEO

Kids Help Phone

As President and CEO of Kids Help Phone, Katherine Hay provides strategic leadership and drives innovation in the implementation of the organization’s five-year strategic plan to be the most-nimble, accessible and effective access point to the support young people need. In fact, in leading an organization recognized as an early adopter in e-mental health and virtual care, Kathy has made the organization’s mission, to always be open, providing a safe and trusted place for young people in any moment of crisis or need, a personal commitment. As a passionate change-maker in Canada, Kathy is dedicated to encouraging innovation and amplifying the voice of young people. Most recently Kathy was recognized as one of 2022 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award in the category of Most Powerful CEOs. In 2021, Kathy received the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award of Social Change award and the Arts 2021 Alumni Achievement Award presented from the University of Waterloo.

Kathy’s commitment to young people and the charitable sector extends to her volunteer work where she is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and a member of the Governance Committee. Kathy is also a member of the National Youth Serving Agencies. Past board roles include Digital Health Canada, and Imagine Canada. Previous roles also include a member of the Children’s First Canada Council of Champions; seat owner on the Ontario Premier’s Office sub-council on mental health and addiction; a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Poverty and Homelessness in Mississauga; member of the National Council of Foundation Executives for the Conference Board of Canada; and a former member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network Foundation CEO Roundtable.

Prior to joining Kids Help Phone, Kathy was President and CEO of Women’s College Hospital Foundation where she advanced the health of women across Canada and reached record levels of support. Her success in this role led to her being named one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence in 2017.
Kathy is a passionate change-maker in Canada, impacting change and growth throughout her more than 20 years of exceptional service in senior leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector, including: Executive Director of Advancement at the University of Toronto/Mississauga; Associate Vice-president of Advancement at the University of Guelph; President and CEO at Credit Valley Hospital Foundation; and Chief Development Officer at the Art Gallery of Ontario. After a successful career in banking, Kathy and her family moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she co-founded the Canadian Foundation alongside the Canadian Consul General with a mandate of supporting children and families, it is where she knew that by combining her business experience with her commitment to making an impact for others in this city.