ABOUT ME
Lee-Ann F. O'Brien
Police Leader | Award-Winning Author | Resilience Coach |Speaker
Hello, and welcome.
My name is Lee-Ann F. O'Brien (she/her). I am of mixed Cree (First Nations) and Irish ancestry and am a proud member of Fishing Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan.
I am a Deputy Chief of Police, published author, certified resilience coach, mother, and wife. For more than two decades, I have dedicated my career to Indigenous policing, leadership, and community service. Born and raised in the Ottawa Valley and Pikwakanagan, I began my policing career in 2005 and have had the privilege of serving in a variety of operational and executive leadership roles.
In 2015, I became the first woman in my police service's history to be promoted above the rank of constable. Since then, I have served as Inspector of Field Operations, Acting Chief of Police, and, since 2018, Deputy Chief of Police. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to advancing inclusive leadership, supporting organizational wellness, and helping others reach their potential.
I am a lifelong learner and proud graduate of the University of Toronto's Rotman Police Leadership Program. In 2024, I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, graduating on the Dean's List from the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences. I believe leadership and learning are never finished—they evolve alongside us.
As the founder of Head Fire Resilience Coaching and a Certified Resilience Coach, I combine neuroscience, professional experience, and my own healing journey to help individuals and leaders strengthen resilience, navigate adversity, and cultivate sustainable well-being. I believe resilience is not something we are born with; it is something we build, one intentional choice at a time.
I am the author of three books. My award-winning memoir, Breaking Trail: From Complex Trauma to Command, shares my journey of healing, resilience, and leadership as a mixed Indigenous woman navigating complex systems. My second book, Raising Fire: Igniting Resilience and Becoming Whole, offers practical tools and inspiration for those seeking to reconnect with their strength, purpose, and authentic selves. I am also the author of my first children's book, The Adventures of Patches and Trigger, a heartfelt story inspired by my sister and our childhood adventures with our beloved ponies.
As a speaker, I am passionate about sharing lessons on resilience, trauma-informed leadership, women in policing, Indigenous leadership, and youth empowerment. My goal is always to create meaningful conversations that inspire growth, courage, and hope.
Thank you for being here. I look forward to connecting with you and sharing this journey together.
You were never meant to burn out. You were meant to rise.
Breaking Trail: From
Complex Trauma to
Command
Breaking Trail is a raw and powerful story of healing from trauma, survival, and leadership as an Indigenous woman in policing.
Part memoir, part reflection, it offers truth, hope, and solidarity for anyone carrying pain, reclaiming identity, or walking the path back to themselves.
If you’ve ever felt alone, this book is for you.
Bulk orders are welcome. Please contact me for more details.
Click the link below to order your copy from Indigo.ca.
*New Release*
RAISING FIRE: Igniting Resilience and Becoming Whole
Raising Fire is a practical guide to reclaiming your life, your strength, and your joy, one single choice at a time.
Through raw honesty, lived experience, and practical tools, Lee-Ann shows readers how to tend their “Head Fire”—their inner flame of resilience, presence, and purpose—while raising a family, serving in a senior policing role, navigating relationships, and healing from complex trauma. Full of stories, reflections, and exercises, this book will help you reset your nervous system, protect your peace, ignite your resilience, and build the life you were always meant to live.
Each chapter includes optional journal prompts, inviting readers to pause, reflect, and engage with their own journey at their own pace. This is not a manual for perfection—it is an invitation to honesty, courage, and becoming.
Raising Fire is for anyone who has ever felt broken and brave at the same time—and who knows that real strength is found not in being unbreakable, but in burning, breaking, and rising again.
Click the PDF below to download your FREE E-WORKBOOK Companion to Raising Fire.
E-WORKBOOK
BONUS MATERIAL
Speaking
Powerful, truth-telling speaking services that blend lived experience, professional insight and cultural awareness.
Author
Published author
Breaking Trail
(Baico Publishing, 2025)
Raising Fire
(Baico Publishing, 2026)
consulting
Consulting services rooted in lived experience, cultural integrity and executive leadership in Indigenous Policing. Whether you're building policy, navigating conflict,or shifting culture, I will help you bring clarity, courage, and solutions.
TESTIMONIALS
"The National Indigenous Circle Against Family Violence hosted Lee-Ann O’Brien at our 2026 Social Justice Conference. Her story is not only deeply moving but profoundly empowering. It definitely left a lasting impression on the first responder attendees from across Canada. Lee-Ann spoke with honesty and strength about the realities and challenges within our systems, while powerfully emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed policing. Lee-Ann, through powerful data and real-world context, highlighted the alarming realties Indigenous victims face. She offered meaningful, practical insight into how first responders can better support and serve their communities with compassion, awareness and care. She spoke about the complexities of policing your own communities and the pressure this creates. She made sure to highlight the importance of officer wellness and self-care, which was the perfect addition to her well-rounded presentation. She spoke in a way that made people not only listen but also actively reflect. Her presentation was both inspiring and transformative. Her voice is one that needs to be heard. We believe anyone looking to strengthen their approach to trauma-informed and survivor centred approaches would greatly benefit form learning from her. The way she weaves her lived experience with hands-on knowledge and a heartfelt commitment to supporting is nothing short of incredible."
-The National Indigenous Circle Against Family Violence (Social Justice Conference 2026)
To Book or Inquire
Scan this QR code or click the link to access my Linktree.