Chris Watkins is a well-seasoned and well-travelled Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) with an eclectic career portfolio both in Canada and Australia spanning over nearly 35 years of practice background in Mental Health and Substance Use nursing. He is currently the Regional Project Lead for the Integrated Crisis Response Teams (ICRT) with Interior Health, B.C., and holds a BScPN from Douglas College and a master’s in nursing from Monash University.
Chris is the past president of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA), as well as the past Director of Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada (RPNRC). He is committed to community service and currently sits on the NNPBC board as the RPN leadership/administration councilor, representing the RPNs of B.C. Chris also sits on the board of directors with the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and is the Co-Chair of Champions of Mental Health Awards nominations committee with the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH).
Chris is passionate about making a significant difference in the lives of others by giving people purpose, prosperity and belonging through his commitment to lifelong learning, advocacy, inclusion, authenticity, and treating people with dignity and respect.