Maria Cotroneo

A highly experienced and visionary leader with a drive for improvement, innovation and system transformation as well as a demonstrated history in achieving results. Strategically focused leader able to elicit top performance of staff to consistently achieve performance targets and corporate goals. A leader and entrepreneur who is able to develop and execute programs to improve productivity, effectiveness and the strategic position of the organization. A respected leader within the Manitoba system with strong and professional relationships and partnerships with service partners, providers, educational institutions, pan canadian governments, business communities, Indigenous communities and stakeholders across service sectors.

• Executive Leadership Program Certificate- York University's Schulich School of Business (2022)
• Certified in LEADS Leadership(May 2013- May 2014)
• PMI Leadership Course- Engaging Others - George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation (2016)

• Designed and built a new government department and ministry for the government of Manitoba inclusive of organizational resource, staffing, organizational structures, budget, policies, procedures, operations and culture
• Led the development and design of the first provincial performance and accountability framework for Mental Health and Addictions which identified KPIs, reporting mechanisms and a provincial dashboard to measure and monitor system performance and outcomes.
• Developed and implemented the first coordinated regional strategy and plan for COVID-19 community testing and assessment sites in Winnipeg as part of the pandemic response in order to both maintain testing capacity and plan for surges.
• Led and supported the operational response as the Regional Planning Chief for the WRHA Incident Command 2019 Fall Snow Storm
• Implemented numerous business improvement and process improvement strategies within many program areas of oversight resulting in greater efficiencies, reduction in waste and cost savings for the organization and business.
• Successfully led the development of strategic and operational plans for organizations and government ministries to define the vision, goals and strategic actions in order to achieve high organizational objectives and high performance.
• Successfully facilitated and managed significant large scale changes including responding to the pandemic, transformational organizational restructuring and design, oversight of facility closures, labor disruption response as well as management of a change in government.
• Successfully built and sustained numerous effective relationships with community partners, service delivery organizations, educational partners, professional affiliations and colleges, different levels of governments and Indigenous communities and rightsholders.
• Successfully led provincial consultations and led community engagement with over 3000 individuals inclusive of service and business partners, stakeholders, public, university departments, Indigenous rightsholders.
• Oversight and responsibility of a a budget of over 450 million and of a department of approximately 75 staff.
• Provincial oversight of planning, policy and funding of Mental Health, Addictions and Wellness services provincially with successful implementation of over 100 projects and initiatives worth approximately 85 million over 2 years.

• 2006-2009 SSHRC - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Doctorate)
• 2005-2006 SSHRC - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. (Masters)
• 2005-2006 Bourse Marcel Richard. University du Manitoba (Masters)
• 2005-2006 University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship Program. (Masters)
• 2004-2005 Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation In-Course Excellence Award.