The Mind Hong Kong (Mind HK) Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Dr. Candice Powell has been appointed as Mind HK’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st September 2022.
Diversely trained in evidence-based psychological interventions, Candice previously led Clinical Psychological Services at New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, one of Hong Kong’s largest community mental health non-governmental organisations. She is one of the pioneers of adapting transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy, low-intensity psychological intervention, mindful parenting, and internet therapy in Hong Kong. She is a fellow of The Hong Kong Psychological Society (HKPS), vice-chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology of HKPS, and a training officer of the Association of Contextual and Behavioural Science (Hong Kong Chapter). She has extensive experience in research, having participated in research collaborations with international institutes, including the University of Oxford, University of Amsterdam, Boston University. She is an honorary lecturer at The University of Hong Kong. With a wealth of experience from more than a decade in the mental health field, both as a clinical psychologist and community mental health practitioner, Candice holds a unique set of skills and expertise to drive Mind HK’s strategy, mission, and vision.
Candice joins the Mind HK team at a pivotal time, as the charity implements its new 2022-2024 strategy, transforms from a start-up to a growth phase, and celebrates its 5th anniversary. She will lead our team as we navigate and expand our Youth Wellbeing Practitioner and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner programmes, our two biggest projects to date, where we are training individuals to offer free, evidence-based mental health support to those in Hong Kong experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems. To make breakthroughs in public mental health, we recognise our work has to be clinically sound and based on global and local best practices — Candice will lead the team to execute this, as we evolve as an organisation and do our utmost best to improve the mental health of Hong Kong. She will provide the clinical, public health, and strategic guidance to help accomplish our vision of ensuring no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone.
“Mind HK is an organisation full of energy and passion. Their staff, ambassadors, advisors, and board members are dedicated to making society a mental health friendly city. I have been impressed by Mind HK’s pioneer work on anti-stigma and innovative approaches to enhance Hong Kong people’s awareness of mental health. I am so proud to be selected as the new Chief Executive Officer. I am looking forward to working with the wonderful team and visioning collaborators, I believe that with all these great minds, we are going to create and excel the mental health services in Hong Kong.” – Dr. Candice Powell
Candice will succeed Mind HK’s current CEO, Dr. Hannah Reidy, who stepped down as CEO after more than four years in the post, and will continue to serve as an advisor from September 2022. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Hannah Reidy for her invaluable contribution in helping to found and develop Mind HK and we look forward to having her remain a key part of the Mind HK team.
We are excited and pleased to welcome Dr. Candice Powell on board as CEO as we advance our mission and steer our work to the next stage.
About Mind HK
Mind HK (Mind Mental Health Hong Kong Limited) is a S88 registered charity (91/16471), which launched in 2017. Our vision is to ensure no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone. Through resources, training, and outreach campaigns and programmes, we help to educate around mental health and remove the associated stigma, with the aim of achieving the best mental health for all in Hong Kong. With existing collaboration and research efforts, we are here to support Hong Kong in becoming a global leader and regional model for public mental health.
