The National Council Executives

Ms. David brings 10+ years’ experience in health systems financing, addiction and mental health parity, integrated care and Medicaid to her role as Vice President of Policy & Advocacy for the National Council for Behavioral Health. She provides strategic guidance and support to community-based addiction and mental health providers, educating organizations on trends inside and outside the Beltway while helping them prepare for major policy changes ahead. Ms. David works directly with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and regulatory agencies to track and influence public policies that affect providers’ ability to deliver timely, high-quality services to vulnerable individuals. She has overseen advocacy, education and implementation efforts related to every major behavioral health law in the last decade, from addiction and mental health parity to the Medicaid expansion, Excellence in Mental Health Act, and more. Throughout her career, Ms. David has centered her work around the principle that “nothing in Washington happens without constituent support,” mobilizing grassroots campaigns and building coalitions of advocacy partners to support public policies that strengthen the addiction and mental health safety net. Ms. David directs the National Council’s annual Hill Day, held in partnership with 20 other national addiction and mental health organizations—the largest annual behavioral health advocacy event on Capitol Hill.

Mohini Venkatesh is the Vice President of Business and Strategy at the National Council for Behavioral Health. A passionate advocate for systems-level change, Ms. Venkatesh leads some of the industry’s strongest practice improvement and leadership programs designed to transform clinical and business strategies to meet ever-changing needs, including the Executive Leadership Program, Advancing Standards of Care for People with Bipolar Disorder, and the National Council’s scope for SAMHSA’s BHbusiness Initiative. As a national policy expert, Ms. Venkatesh conducts legislative analysis on the most pressing issues, including health reform, and offers analytic and advocacy advice to National Council members and state and regional associations across the country. Ms. Venkatesh particularly champions mid-level and rising-star leaders as the future of behavioral health, and is the catalyst behind national programs such as the Middle Management Academy, Young Leaders Program, and Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program.

Prior to joining the Council, Ms. Venkatesh worked in the field in a hospital-based psychiatric unit, several social service non-profit organizations, and a state association advocating for community behavioral services. Ms. Venkatesh is the board vice-chair for a community behavioral health organization in Washington, D.C. and recently completed a fellowship with the Non-Profit Roundtable’s Future Executive Directors Program. She received a Masters in Public Health from Yale University and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.