Lisa Tomlinson

Lisa Tomlinson is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST), Canada’s largest Board-governed child welfare agency. With more than 35 years of experience in child welfare, Lisa brings a deep commitment to service excellence, equity and sector leadership.

Her career spans frontline practice to senior leadership roles, and she is nationally recognized for her pioneering work at the intersection of child welfare and domestic violence. Lisa developed Canada’s first dedicated Domestic Violence Team within a child welfare agency, creating practice principles and guidelines that continue to inform work across the sector. Her expertise has been sought by police services, government bodies, and child welfare organizations nationwide.

As an equity champion, Lisa is a strong advocate for inclusive and anti-oppressive child welfare practices. She is also a respected trainer, public speaker and collaborator, dedicated to strengthening partnerships and enhancing the support available to children, youth and families.

Lisa’s leadership at CAST is grounded in her belief in meaningful, mission-driven service. As the Agency’s CEO (previously Chief Operating Officer and Director of Service), she is advancing the Agency’s strategic goals in collaboration with the Board of Directors and remains focused on service excellence, strong community partnerships, and achieving the best outcomes for children and youth across all areas of CAST’s work.