The Canada’s Most Influential Women to Watch in 2025
In the landscape of Canadian healthcare, few leaders embody the perfect blend of innovation, advocacy, and compassion quite like Joanne Simons, the CEO of Casey House. As a beacon of transformative leadership in 2025, Simons stands out not just for her strategic vision but for her unwavering commitment to advancing inclusive and dignified healthcare for vulnerable communities.
For Roula Youssef Halabi, Senior Vice President of Global Fertility Services at CooperSurgical, the pursuit of excellence in healthcare has been a lifelong mission.
Born and raised in Lebanon, her formative years were influenced by a culture that valued resilience, adaptability, and community—qualities that would later define her leadership style. Roula’s journey from a trained midwife to leadership roles in the fertility industry is not only a testament to her unwavering commitment to the health of women, babies, and families – the very mission she strives toward at CooperSurgical – but her dedication to excellence in everything she does.
CooperSurgical is a fertility & women’s health company rooted in a dedication to upholding the highest standards and reaching new heights as a leader in the industry: a guiding principle with which Roula found perfect harmony. Since 2023, she has led the global fertility services business, placing paramount importance on excellent quality care for customers and their patients, around the world.
Read on for excerpts from our interview with Roula where she brings to light how she inspires excellence in her teams through passionate leadership and empowering others.
The Path to Leadership
My journey began in the delivery rooms, where I witnessed firsthand the complexities and joys of bringing new life into the world. My education and training as a midwife gave me a deep understanding of the human side of healthcare. However, I felt a pull toward broader challenges in leadership, particularly in the domain of infertility—a field often fraught with emotional and physical hurdles for patients.
I’ve always been driven by the desire to create meaningful change and impact. Transitioning from midwifery to the infertility world having the opportunity to see the business from different lenses, the lens of a patient and the lens of a customer where I was the COO for the largest fertility network in the Middle East, and the lens of a supplier allowed me to address not only the clinical aspects, but also the emotional and social dynamics, of building families, along with the innovation and advanced technology that ensure access to care and improve outcomes.
After a few years in the field, I transitioned into business, combining clinical expertise with strategic acumen. I now bring 24 years of global healthcare expertise and leadership experience to my role, including managing a quarter-billion-dollar P&L and leading M&A endeavors. My journey has also been shaped by effective collaboration within complex organizations, strategic goal-setting, and international expansion initiatives. My multilingual skills (English, French, and Arabic) and dual nationalities (Lebanese and American) have enriched my ability to navigate diverse markets and cultures.
Staying Motivated in a Dynamic Role
For me, motivation stems from my dual focus: advancing medical innovation and making a real difference in patients’ lives. Every product we develop, every solution we deliver, has the potential to change someone’s story and help people achieve their dream of parenthood. That’s incredibly powerful.
Staying driven in a global leadership role requires balancing a demanding schedule with personal values. I credit my family for keeping me grounded; their support is my anchor. My commitment to a balanced and healthy lifestyle, including my active participation in the F45 High-Intensity Team Challenge, helps me maintain the energy and focus needed for my responsibilities.
Integrating Technology and Empathy
In a field as sensitive as fertility, the challenge lies in integrating cutting-edge technology without losing the patient focus. We can’t just innovate for innovation’s sake. We need to ask, ‘How does this improve the patient journey and the patient outcome? How does it support clinics in delivering better care for their patients?’
At CooperSurgical, we have introduced solutions and services that simplify complex processes, such as electronic witnessing systems and advanced genomic testing. But the real triumph lies in ensuring these innovations are accessible and empowering for patients and clinics alike.
Empowering Women Professionals
As a woman in a leadership role, I am deeply committed to fostering an environment where women can thrive. I have championed initiatives that promote mentorship, career development, and a culture of inclusivity. I believe that diverse voices drive innovation.
Empowerment is about creating opportunities and removing barriers. It’s about recognizing potential and investing in people, providing them with the tools to succeed.
My advice to young women aspiring to lead in healthcare is to believe in your vision and don’t be afraid to take risks. Seek mentors, build your network, and never stop learning. Most importantly, measure your success by the people you uplift, and don’t forget to celebrate the small wins along the way. Overcoming Challenges
My career has not been without its hurdles. Navigating a transition from a regional role to a global leadership position in a traditionally male-dominated industry came with unique challenges. These experiences, however, provided invaluable opportunities to break barriers, challenge biases, and pave the way for greater inclusivity.
Leadership is not just about making tough decisions in difficult times. It’s also about transparency, empathy, and ensuring that those decisions align with the organization’s values and long-term vision. As COO at Fakih IVF, I contributed to a significant industry acquisition and gained hands-on experience in board-level operations, preparing me for my current leadership responsibilities at CooperSurgical.
Board Memberships and Industry Contributions
Beyond my executive role at CooperSurgical, I serve as a board member for MECOMED and AVL Skincare, where I leverage my expertise to drive strategic initiatives and foster industry growth. My involvement underscores my dedication to advancing healthcare and related sectors through collaboration and innovation.
Defining Success and The Future of Fertility
Looking ahead, I see a future shaped by more personalized treatment, increased accessibility, and the integration of AI in clinical decision-making. The next frontier is making fertility solutions available to more people, irrespective of geography or socioeconomic status.
For me, success is about impact. It’s not just about hitting numbers or launching products. It’s about leaving a legacy of innovation, compassion, and empowerment. It’s about the lives we touch and the futures we help create.
As I continue to lead CooperSurgical’s fertility services with vision and heart, I am committed to excellence and inspiration to change fertility care for generations to come.
Canada's Most Influential Women to Watch in 2025
A Trailblazer in Inclusive Healthcare
Under Simons’ leadership, Casey House has become synonymous with holistic, patient-centered care, particularly for those affected by HIV/AIDS. She has pioneered groundbreaking initiatives that bridge the gap between healthcare accessibility and stigma-free treatment, ensuring that every individual receives care with dignity and respect.
Her deep understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities has driven her to advocate tirelessly for policies that expand access to healthcare. From spearheading outreach programs to championing mental health and harm reduction strategies, Simons’ approach is both comprehensive and transformative. Her efforts extend beyond clinical care, as she has also been instrumental in raising awareness about the social determinants of health and how they impact the well-being of individuals facing systemic barriers.
Beyond direct patient care, Simons has worked to build partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and global health leaders to create a more inclusive and sustainable healthcare model. Her work has been instrumental in shaping policies that prioritize preventative care and social support systems, reducing hospital readmissions and improving long-term health outcomes.
Innovating for the Future
Innovation has been a hallmark of Simons' leadership at Casey House. She has overseen the implementation of cutting-edge medical practices, ensuring that the facility remains at the forefront of compassionate and evidence-based care. Her focus on integrating technology with personalized healthcare has led to enhanced patient experiences and improved clinical outcomes.
Through her leadership, Casey House has introduced groundbreaking digital health tools that enable remote patient monitoring, telehealth consultations, and AI-driven diagnostics, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive continuous care without the need for frequent hospital visits. By harnessing the power of data analytics, Simons has also led initiatives to better track patient progress and tailor treatments to individual needs, ultimately driving more effective and efficient healthcare solutions.
Moreover, Simons has played a critical role in fostering collaborations with policymakers, healthcare professionals, and advocacy groups to shape progressive health policies that have far-reaching impacts beyond Casey House. Her ability to drive systemic change while maintaining a deeply personal connection to the individuals her organization serves sets her apart as a truly influential leader. Her advocacy work has been instrumental in securing government funding for essential programs and expanding public health education on HIV/AIDS and other critical health issues.
Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
Beyond her work in healthcare, Simons is passionate about mentorship and leadership development. She actively supports emerging leaders in the healthcare sector, particularly women and underrepresented groups, ensuring that the future of healthcare leadership reflects the diversity and inclusivity she champions.
Her dedication to fostering an environment of continuous learning and innovation has empowered Casey House to not only serve as a model of excellence but also as an incubator for the next generation of healthcare trailblazers. She has established leadership programs and scholarships aimed at developing young professionals in healthcare, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of modern medicine.
In addition to her work at Casey House, Simons regularly speaks at national and international conferences, sharing her expertise on patient-centred care, healthcare innovation, and leadership. Her influence extends to academia, where she collaborates with universities and research institutions to develop forward-thinking curriculums that prepare the next wave of medical professionals for the challenges of the future.
A Legacy of Impact
As one of Canada’s Most Influential Women to Watch in 2025, Joanne Simons’ impact extends far beyond the walls of Casey House. Her leadership is a testament to the power of compassion-driven innovation in shaping the future of healthcare. By relentlessly challenging the status quo and advocating for healthcare equity, she continues to redefine what it means to lead with purpose and humanity.
In a world where healthcare is constantly evolving, leaders like Joanne Simons remind us that true progress is achieved not just through policies and programs, but through the unwavering commitment to uplifting and empowering every individual in need of care. Her work at Casey House will leave a legacy, inspiring future generations of healthcare professionals and leaders to build a more compassionate and equitable healthcare system.
As we look ahead to the future of healthcare in Canada and beyond, one thing is certain: Joanne Simons is not just shaping the present—she is paving the way for a more inclusive, innovative, and compassionate tomorrow.