Helen Burstyn has enjoyed a 30-year career in government, business, and community service. She currently serves as Special Advisor, Social Enterprise at the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment.

Helen is the former Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a government agency that makes grants to not-for-profit and charitable organizations in the social services, arts and culture, sports and recreation, and environment sectors. In 2010/2011, together with Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Dr. Eric Hoskins, she co-chaired The Partnership Project, an Ontario government initiative to strengthen the not-for-profit and voluntary sectors in the province. She continues to chair the Partnership Forum, an advisory body on the not-for-profit and charitable sector.

Helen is also a Principal at Counsel Public Affairs, based in Toronto, Ontario.

Helen sits on the boards of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Luminato, The Walrus Foundation, the Canadian Journalism Foundation, The Learning Partnership, Harmony Hall, and the Koffler Centre for the Arts. With The Boston Consulting Group and MaRS, she recently co-founded the Pecaut Centre for Social Impact, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating the next generation of social entrepreneurs.

She is also a founder, past-president and honorary board chair of Gilda's Club Greater Toronto and a founding member of Equal Voice. She served on the boards of the Canadian Club of Toronto (Past President), Canadian Stage Company, City of Toronto War of 1812 Commemorative Committee and the Mayor’s Task Force on the Arts. In the 2011 general election, she was the provincial Liberal Candidate for Beaches-East York.

Helen received the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Community Leadership in 2010 and the Ontario Citizenship Award for Volunteer Service that same year. She has four daughters and a granddaughter, and lives in Toronto.