The weight of the world can sometimes feel too heavy to carry. Balancing important deadlines with family responsibilities, while also bracing against headlines filled with hostility, attacks on health care, and a constant stream of hate-filled rhetoric. Unfortunately, these environmental burdens don’t stop when we go to or log in to work.

This national webinar, presented in partnership with QueerTech, brings together leading voices to explore the realities our communities face today, how it’s impacting our mental health, and evidence-based solutions for a range of workplaces. Together, we’ll examine:

• Environmental factors that undermine mental health with Dylana Thomson, Director of Policy & Advocacy at The Enchanté Network.
• The barriers to accessing affirming care with Instructor; Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and Author Rahim Thawer, creator of Canada’s Queer & Trans Therapists, a curated directory of therapists with lived experience that align with our communities’ needs.
• What research says about workplace dynamics and technology are influencing well-being with Naoufel Testaouni, Co-Founder & CEO of QueerTech.

Panelists:

Dylana Thompson, Rahim Thawer and Naoufel Testaouni

Facilitator:

Colin Druhan

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Dylana Thompson (she/her) is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Enchanté Network, where she works with the 2SLGBTQI+ sector across Canada to advance systemic change that improves the lives of 2SLGBTQI+ people. She previously served as principal researcher for the White Paper on the Status of Trans and Gender Diverse People, a document tabled in Parliament with 29 recommendations to strengthen trans rights at the federal level. Currently, Dylana partners with community organizations and grassroots groups in several provinces to advocate for stronger gender-affirming care policies, among other key initiatives. A graduate of Carleton University’s Master of Political Management program, she brings political expertise and strategic insight to support 2SLGBTQI+ movements nationwide

Rahim Thawer (he/him) is a registered social worker (OCSWSSW) and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) based in Toronto. He works as an instructor, psychotherapist, consultant, public speaker, podcast host, and writer. He is the founder of Affective Consulting & Psychotherapy Services (est. 2014) and has delivered nearly 200 presentations across North America and Europe. His community workshops foster critical dialogue and reflection on mental health, systemic oppression, interpersonal dynamics, and innovation in queer relationships.

Rahim teaches at The University of Alabama, where he is also completing a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) with a specialization in organizational leadership. As a queer Muslim, his clinical and scholarly work sits at the intersection of mental health and social justice. His doctoral research explores how anti-racist, queer-affirming psychoanalytic frameworks can support social workers, therapists-in-training, and organizational leaders.

He was one of the co-editors of Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer (Coach House Books, 2016), a Toronto Book Awards finalist, and his latest book, The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys (New Harbinger Publications), was released in June 2025. This past August, he launched the Canadian Queer & Trans Therapist Directory (CQTT), empowering service users to find the affirming care they need.

Naoufel Testaouni is the Co-Founder and CEO of QueerTech, a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to queering the tech ecosystem by breaking down barriers and empowering 2SLGBTQ+ people to thrive. With a career spanning nonprofit leadership, corporate innovation at Microsoft, and business development in tech startups, Naoufel brings a unique perspective on inclusive leadership and building equitable opportunities in technology.

Colin Druhan (he/him) is the Executive Director of Pride at Work Canada, where he made Mental Health First Aid and Naloxone training mandatory for staff and co-created Leading for Impact, a coaching program for people-managers. With over 20 years in the nonprofit sector—running counseling programs, food banks, and advocacy services—he’s seen the heavy toll community work takes: stress, substance use, and suicidality are all endemic. He believes progress comes through access to affirming mental health care, vital for individuals and organizations alike.

He completed the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Strategy program at Harvard Business School and studied change management and AI integration at Rotman’s Leading Change program. A graduate of NSCAD University (BFA ‘05), Colin remains a creative thinker at heart.