May 10, 2024 – We’re pleased to share the wonderful news that Starr Cunningham has been recognized for her incredible leadership with an Atlantic Business Magazine Top 50 CEO Award. She’ll be featured in the May issue of Atlantic Business Magazine, which hits the newsstands today.
Over the last decade Starr has led the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia through a tremendous period of change and growth, bringing the Foundation’s annual granting capacity from $200,000 to over $3 million. She has established strategic partnerships, increased and diversified revenue streams, created organizational capacity, and strengthened the Foundation’s brand and reputation. Her success is rooted in her forward-thinking approach, commitment to sound management and governance, and passion for helping others through the cultivation of hope.
Navigating complexity
Her progressive and bold approach to leadership was perhaps most evident when she led the Foundation through the COVID-19 pandemic’s implications on its event-based fundraising strategies.
Valuing team work and relationship building
Starr believes that success is a team effort, a belief that drives her efforts to establish a healthy workplace culture for her staff. Under her tenure, the Foundation has introduced practices that promote work-life balance, trust and collaboration, and personal and professional development. In a sector that often struggles with retention, Starr creates a positive and strong team experience that appeals to current and prospective employees.
Relationships have been critical to the Foundation’s success, and Starr does exceptional work to build and maintain them with all stakeholders. Notably, she works closely with Nova Scotia’s Office of Addictions and Mental Health to share best practices on granting programs and provide expertise on the mental health landscape in Nova Scotia. In the fall of 2023, Starr was called as a witness for the Standing Committee on Health regarding the implementation of additional mental health supports in Nova Scotia and she participated in an intimate round table discussion with Her Excellency, Governor General Mary Simon, regarding mental health funding and solutionist thinking. After the devastating Portapique mass casualty event in April 2020, Starr advised the Mass Casualty Commission on community supports and facilitated the first panel of the MCC hearings titled “Human Impact – the Broad Reach and Effects on Wellness.”
Sharing experience and expertise
Starr also serves as a member of the St. John Ambulance NS & PEI Board of Directors, the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund Advisory Committee, the Social Policy and Advocacy Committee with Dalhousie University’s Department of Psychiatry, and the International Women’s Forum Atlantic Executive.
She has received the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, Member of the Order of St. John Ambulance Canada, Women of Excellence Philanthropy Award, 150 Canadians Leading for Mental Health Award, Halifax Businessperson of the Year - Silver, Association of Fundraising Professional’s Rising Star Award, and the Dr. Elizabeth A. Chard award through Special Olympics NS.
Her career began in journalism as a reporter then anchor with CTV Atlantic.
Please join the Foundation’s Board and staff in congratulating Starr for receiving this well-earned recognition!