Appointee Biographies

SYED MUHAMMAD ASLAM DAUD

Syed Muhammad Aslam Daud is a healthcare professional, and a humanitarian relief and community service champion with more than 25 years of experience in Humanitarian Aid, Emergency Medical Relief, Food Banks and Refugee Sponsorship and resettlement. He is well-travelled and has led humanitarian missions responding to natural disasters. Dr. Daud is an advocate of diversity and inclusiveness. His relationship with multicultural communities along with extensive experience as a board member in various governmental/non-governmental/non-profit decision-making bodies has made him effective and successful in achieving goals. He has received many awards and recognitions including awards from Prime Ministers, Governor General, Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, Ontario Volunteer Service and City of Vaughan Awards.

MARIO SILVA

Mario Silva is a Distinguished Fellow at Ryerson University, author and former elected official. He was appointed by the Government of Canada as the 2013 Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Dr. Silva is a graduate of the University of Toronto, the University of Sorbonne in Paris and holds a master’s degree in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University as well as a PhD in law from the National University of Ireland in Galway. He has been honored by the governments of Brazil, France and Portugal.

HOLLY GOMES

Holly Gomes is a graduate of the University of Guelph and obtained her LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario. Holly commenced her legal practice in social justice law at a community legal clinic where she represented clients before various administrative tribunals. Following this, Holly entered private practice representing both employees and employers in workplace disputes such as contract and severance negotiations, wrongful dismissal actions and human rights claims.

KAREN DAWSON

Karen Dawson practiced civil litigation and administrative law in Toronto prior to her appointment to the HRTO. She has represented clients before all levels of Ontario courts and several administrative tribunals. Ms. Dawson holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto and a Master of Laws from York University. Prior to law school, Ms. Dawson obtained a Bachelor of Music (Class I) from Queen's University. She continues to support Ontario's music community through her volunteer work and is a past director of a prestigious summer music school for gifted young musicians.

KAREN MASON

Karen Mason has been a member of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario since 2019. She holds a master’s in business administration. After over 20 years in senior management in the broader public sector leading organizations human resources and labour relations functions, Karen provided consulting on Workplace Violence and Harassment including investigations and workplace reconciliation. Karen has extensive volunteer service to the community including such activities as restorative justice mediation, working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system to integrate into the community, and chairing review panels as part of the United Way’s citizen review process.

ANTHONY TAMBURRO

Anthony Tamburro served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 34 years in both the Royal Canadian Artillery and the Office of the Judge Advocate General. He retired in 2019 at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Highlights of his military career include flood-relief operations in Manitoba (1997), humanitarian work in Bosnia (1998), 11 years as a military prosecutor, three years as a legal advisor on human rights issues applicable to members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and two appearances in the Supreme Court of Canada. Anthony has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Military and Strategic Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada as well as Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School.

DENISE GHANAM

Denise Ghanam, of Belle River, has served as Member, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, since 2021. Denise is the former President of Ghanam Consulting Inc. She is also a former professor at University of Windsor - Odette School of Business and former Adjunct Professor at Nipissing University and Wayne State University. Her community involvement has included serving as federal appointee to the Windsor Port Authority, as Director of Corpus Christi Folk Choir and as President of the Human Resources Professional Association.

DAVID LANGLOIS

Dave Langlois has been with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario since 2021. He has also served as an adjudicator on the Consent and Capacity Board (2019-2023) and the Ontario Review Board (2021-2023). He spent many years as a clinical ethics consultant across a broad range of Ontario hospitals and healthcare facilities. Prior to joining the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Dave published academic articles on a variety of issues related to ethics and the law. In 2014, Dave completed his PhD in Philosophy at Harvard University.

JOSEPH TASCONA

Joseph Tascona, of Barrie, has served as Member, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, since 2020, and is Principal Lawyer at Joseph N. Tascona Law Firm. Joseph was a Member of Provincial Parliament from 1995-2007.

ROBERT PATCHETT

Robert Patchett, of Ottawa, is a Vice-Chair (part-time) of the Landlord and Tenant Board and Lieutenant-Colonel Infantry Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, and former Senior Strategic Policy Advisor and Senior Military Advisor, Department of National Defence/Canadian Forces Housing Agency. His community involvement includes serving as Branch Service Officer with the Royal Canada Legion.

AIDA GATFIELD

Aida Gatfield is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, University of Western Ontario. Ms. Gatfield has extensive experience in labour, employment and human rights law and has represented clients before courts and tribunals. She has focused her practice on providing services to organizations as an external neutral conducting investigations into workplace issues.

LEAH SIMON

Leah Simon was a lawyer with Sherrard Kuzz LLP from 2008 to 2021. Leah practiced employment, labour and human rights law and is the co-author of Carswell's "Practice & Procedure Before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario". Leah has taught employment law at the community college level and formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre. Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen's University.

RAFEENA BACCHUS

Rafeena Bacchus is called to the Bar in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. After law school, she completed a Clerkship for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. She was a partner at a prominent insurance defence litigation firm in Toronto. She has also served as director and legal counsel for a collaborative health justice program that she developed in partnership with Osgoode law school's student legal clinic. She has lived and worked in Cameroon, Africa, serving as the director of a human rights organization. She is founder/mediator at Bacchus Legal P.C., and is adjunct faculty at Lincoln Alexander School of Law teaching civil procedure and practice.

LARRY SWARTZ

Larry Swartz serves as member (part-time) for the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) Employee Life and Health Trust. Larry is a Barrister and Solicitor for Lawrence J. Swartz Barrister and Solicitor, and an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School.

STACEY FERGUSON

Stacey Ferguson, of Peterborough, is a former Administrator for the City of Cornwall and a former Supervisor for the Region of Durham. Stacey’s community involvement has included serving as a volunteer for the Canadian Blood Services and a tutor for the Tri County Literacy Council.

STEPHANIE ZWICKER SLAVENS

Stephanie Zwicker Slavens is the Associate Chair of the Animal Care Review Board and Fire Safety Commission. Stephanie joined Tribunals Ontario in April 2021 as a full-time Vice Chair with the Social Benefits Tribunal. Prior to Tribunals Ontario, Stephanie practiced as a lawyer for almost 20 years representing both seriously injured parties and institutional clients. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2000 with an LLB, and previously earned her Honours BES at York University in 1997. In her years of practice, Stephanie appeared before the Ontario Court of Appeal, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Licence Appeal Tribunal, Financial Services Commission of Ontario, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Social Security Tribunal, and the Ontario Small Claims Court.

ROBERT GABOR

Robert Gabor is the principal of Gabor Mediation Services Inc. He holds a B.Sc in Psychology from the University of Toronto, an LL.B from the University of Western Ontario and a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Conrad Grebel College at the University of Waterloo. Robert was called to the Ontario Bar in 1993. Prior to commencing work as a mediator, he practiced as a litigation lawyer representing injured and disabled parties in civil actions for over 26 years during which time he conducted both trial and appellate work, appeared before administrative tribunals and acted as counsel at over a thousand mediations. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian Bar Association and the ADR Institute of Ontario. Robert’s community involvement includes having acted as a parent ambassador at Havergal college and as a minor hockey coach for the North Toronto Hockey Association.

FRANÇOIS HENRIE

François Henrie is a fluently bilingual lawyer and a member of both the Law Society of Ontario and the Barreau du Québec, he holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology), a Bachelor of Economics, a Bachelor of Common Law and a Bachelor of Civil Law. Over the past 22 years, he worked with a Federal Crown corporation and most recently as Assistant General Counsel at Export Development Canada, a federal crown agency. He is a graduate and holds a Lean Six-Sigma Greenbelt from the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University.

CATHERINE HOLTZ

Catherine Holtz has an honours degree in Criminal Justice and Public Policy, with a minor in Psychology, from the University of Guelph. She also obtained a Juris Doctor from Western University. She operated a family law practice and has served on the Ontario Social Benefits Tribunal since December 2021. With a background in social justice issues and community services, Catherine previously led a Youth Homelessness Task Force and authored a research paper on local youth homelessness issues.

CAROLINE SAND

Caroline Sand is a lawyer and educator who has been working in adjudication and mediation since 2015. She was a Vice Chair at the Workplace Safety Insurance Appeals Tribunal prior to her appointment at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in 2018. She worked for many years at a legal clinic where she represented low income clients experiencing complex and intersecting legal problems. She also provided public legal education, and oversaw the law student program at the clinic, where she was engaged in teaching, training and mentoring law students. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

WILL MCNAIR

Will McNair is a former Justice of the Peace, Regional Supervisor for the Nunavut Court of Justice, and a former Staff Defence Counsel for the Nunavut Legal Services Board. His community involvement has included serving as a volunteer kitchen staff for Qajuqturvik Soup Kitchen.

AMANDA CONNOLLEY

Amanda Connolley is a full-time member of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO). Prior to her appointment to the HRTO, Amanda was employed with the federal public service as a senior advisor in the field of labour relations. During this period, she was also appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada as a member of the Refugee Appeal Division. Before joining the federal public service, Amanda worked as a practicing lawyer, in both the private and public sectors, focusing on the fields of criminal and police law. Amanda’s community involvement includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Total Communication Environment, a non-profit charitable organization providing residential support, day services, and outreach to long term care homes, for adults with multiple disabilities and special communication needs. She also volunteers her time as a driver for Meals on Wheels, and as a secretary for a local school council. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Science (Honours in Biology) from Queen’s University. She is a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.

LAVINIA INBAR

Lavinia lnbar is a lawyer who has practised primarily in the areas of administrative and criminal law and has taught law at the college and university levels. She has worked in the community legal clinic system as well as in criminal defence and has written and edited several legal book chapters, articles and informational blogs. Her community work has included being the Chair of the Board of Directors of a women's shelter and being part of a group of members of the legal community who prepare and serve meals to low-income people. She lives in mid-eastern Ontario.

KELLY BARKER

Kelly Barker resides in Hamilton and previously worked as a lawyer and an Ombudsperson. Kelly obtained her LL.B. from the University of New Brunswick and her LL.M. from the University of Ottawa. Following her call to the Bar in 2010, Kelly began her legal career in policing and has since spent the majority of her career as a child protection lawyer. Kelly began her position as University Ombudsperson at Brock University in 2020.

JANA MARECKOVA

Jana Mareckova has over 20 years of experience within the government and not-for-profit sectors in various roles focused on promoting human rights, accessibility, and inclusion. Jana holds a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Public Law from the University of Exeter. Her community work has included serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights, a member of the Kingston Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee, and a public representative with CPA Ontario’s Adjudicative Tribunals.

ERIN FITZPATRICK

Erin Fitzpatrick graduated from McGill University's joint law & social work programme and is a member of the Ontario bar and the Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers. Erin has worked as both a lawyer and social worker in various settings focusing on health, human rights and access to justice issues. Erin has also been engaged in the community as a volunteer and part-time professor at uOttawa's Faculty of Law.

ROSAMARIA LONGO

Rosamaria Longo is a Lawyer called before the Law Society of Ontario. She was called to the Ontario bar in 2003. She has practiced in Intellectual Property and litigation for nearly 20 years. She has appeared before the Federal Court in respect of matters involving the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations. She has acted as in-house litigation counsel to the Canadian Private Coping Collective, a not-for-profit organization which collects and distributes private copying royalties. She operated her own firm advising individuals and companies in respect of Intellectual Property rights and strategies to develop, commercialize and protect their Intellectual Property. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a specialist in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto.

CARYN HIRSHHORN

Caryn Hirshhorn holds law degrees in both Common and Civil Law from McGill Law School. Prior to embarking on her legal studies, she obtained a Bachelor of Journalism degree at Carleton University. Since her call to the bar, Ms. Hirshhorn has focused on civil litigation. She also practiced corporate law, with an eye for assisting small local businesses. For the last six years, she has focused her career on legal writing and research.

SIMON DANN

Simon Dann is a self-employed Regulatory and Compliance Consultant and Strategy Advisor. He is a former Arbitrator for Tarion Builder Arbitration Forum, and a former Director of Government & Corporate Relations for Luxell Technologies Inc.

MARINUS LAMERS

Marinus Lamers has Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Queen’s University. He was called to the bar of Ontario in 1981 and since then has practiced law in Southwestern Ontario. Since 1991 he has been a partner at Lerners LLP where he conducted a varied practice focused primarily on serious personal injury, wrongful death, disability and insurance claims from both a plaintiff and defense perspective. From 1991 until 2005 he was an instructor in civil litigation, professional liability and practice management and legal writing at the Bar Admission Course, Law Society of Upper Canada. He was a trustee and past-president of the Middlesex Law Association. He has volunteered with various community and charitable organizations including being a member and past chairperson of the London Family Court Clinic (formally the Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System).

ELISABETH CAMPIN

Elisabeth Campin has acted as part-time instructor of Administrative and Employment Law at Seneca College. She was employed at General Motors of Canada for 31 years with responsibility for support, advice, training, and education in all aspects of employment law, including human rights, employment standards, wrongful dismissal, health and safety, and had responsibility as counsel in collective agreement negotiations. She has contributed to papers and made presentations in her area of expertise. Prior to General Motors, she was employed by General Electric and articled with Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt. Ms. Campin received her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto and her Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School.

FIONA KEITH

Fiona Keith is Senior Counsel of Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise for Global Affairs Canada, and a former Senior Counsel for Canadian Human Rights Commission. Her community involvement includes serving as a volunteer cook for Shepherds of Good Hope.

MARY MACNEILL

Mary MacNeill holds an undergraduate degree in science from the University of Western Ontario, and received her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. She works as senior legal counsel at Synaptic Vision Inc. Mary is actively involved in her community giving her time to volunteer work and community service, where she serves in capacities as a volunteer, and director, with several community organizations. She is currently appointed to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, as a part time member and cross appointed to the Ontario Parole Board.

GULZAR LADHANI

Gulzar Ladhani has a Masters of Law, specializing in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School. This complements her business and law degrees. Her past law practice experience focused on corporate and personal tax planning. Gulzar loves giving back and is very active in the community, currently being the Chair of the Board of Directors of Centre for Skills Development, Burlington, and on the Board of Directors of CarePoint Health, Mississauga. She also mentors young directors for the Fora Network’s Girls on Board program. Gulzar is a past board member of the Mississauga Halton LHIN and the Aga Khan Conciliation and Arbitration Board of Ontario as well as the Oakville Children’s Choir and Oakville Ice Expression.

ANN MARIE YANTZ

Ann Marie Yantz is an experienced paralegal from Kitchener, Ontario, and the first paralegal in Ontario to be appointed to the executive of a law association. She joined the firm Kelly & Co. in September 1997 and received her law clerk diploma from the Institute of Law Clerks in 2000 and became licensed as a paralegal by the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2008. Ann Marie has provided per diem prosecution services for matters concerning the Provincial Offences Act for both Halton Region, the County of Perth and the Ministry of the Attorney General. Ann Marie is a member of the Prosecutors Association of Ontario and an associate member of the Institute of Law Clerks. In 2013, Ann Marie became the first elected paralegal board member of the Waterloo Region Law Association, where she was a trustee and treasurer until 2017. Ann Marie's community involvement includes being the Secretary Treasurer of Thresholds Homes and Supports Inc. and the President of Sunbeam Community and Development Services. Ann Marie was also a board member of Legal Aid Ontario and the Paralegal Advisory Committee at Conestoga College of Applied Arts & Technology.

JAMES RHODES

James Rhodes is a lawyer that has been practicing for almost 22 years. He graduated with a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Toronto and subsequently went on to pursue a law degree that was granted in 1998 from University of Manitoba. His articling was completed at the Tax Court of Canada and he was called to the Ontario bar in 1999. James Rhodes has worked at the accounting firms of KMPG and PwC, and then worked for the Federal Department of Justice representing the government. Subsequently, he worked as a sole proprietor and then worked at Miller Thomson developing a tax dispute practice. Currently, he works as a sole proprietor under the name TaxationLawyers representing individuals, corporations, and municipal entities across Canada at the audit, appeals, and before the Tax Court of Canada and Federal Court of Appeal.

ROBERT CIRIELLO

Robert Ciriello has over 15 years within the private and public sectors and currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer at Owen Transportation Company. Previously, Robert was a Director of Internal Audit at the Royal Bank of Canada and before that, Assistant Vice President at Canada Life, within Governance Operations, Risk and Controls. Robert holds a HBA and MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, a JD from the University of Detroit Mercy and LLM from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.

IVANA VACCARO

Ivana Vaccaro serves as a member (part-time) of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Child and Family Services Review Board, Custody Review Board, Ontario Special Education Tribunal (English) and served as a member (part-time) of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at RV Law LLP, and the founder of Mediated Family Results Inc. She is a family lawyer, an accredited mediator, arbitrator and parenting coordinator. Her community involvement includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors for The Redwood and serving as a coach and advisor with the Coach and Advisor Network for the Law Society of Ontario.

PATRICIA MULDOWNEY-BROOKS

Patricia Muldowney-Brooks is currently a Vice Chair (part time) with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. Ms. Muldowney-Brooks was formerly the Manager of Social Work Services for the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board. She was also a long-standing employee with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board providing clinical social work services to the HWDSB in a variety of leadership roles. Ms. Muldowney-Brooks has previously provided mediation and arbitration services to families and communities while in private practice. She has previously served on numerous boards and committees in various capacities including the Ontario Consent and Capacity Board.

JENNIFER HARNUM

Jennifer Harnum, of Ottawa, is Counsel with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. She is also a former Manager with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, and a former investigator with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Her community involvement includes serving as Scouter with Scouts Canada.

RICHARD FLOYD

Richard Floyd, of Belleville, is a former High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. He is also a former Crown Attorney with the Ministry of the Attorney General and former Prosecutor with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions New South Wales, Australia. His community involvement has included serving as Chairperson and board member of Hospice Quinte.

STEPHEN EATON

Stephen Eaton, of Oakville, is a Lawyer with Eaton Law Professional Corporation. Stephen’s community involvement includes serving as volunteer legal counsel with CCM Legal Clinic and as a Council Member with the Council of the College of Nurses of Ontario.

GILA HELLER

Gila Heller, of Toronto, is a Director of Lyncar Canada Inc. She previously served as Legal Counsel with Sony of Canada Ltd. Gila’s community involvement includes serving as a volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program at the Bernard Betel Centre.

MBUSO NKOSI

Mbuso Nkosi is a senior family lawyer in Toronto. He is also legal counsel to the Student Union at OCAD University where he advises students on numerous legal issues including housing, employment and immigration. Additionally, he holds a Master of Science degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. His volunteer work has included mediator with Operation Springboard's Adult Justice Committee, volunteer summer law student with the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO) and volunteer lawyer with Flemingdon Community Legal Services (now Don Valley Community Legal Services).

MATTHEW LETOURNEAU

Matthew Létourneau is a part-time member with the Licence Appeal Tribunal as well as the Animal Care Review Board, the Fire Safety Commission and the Ontario Parole Board. He is the French Services Lead for Tribunals Ontario. Mr. Létourneau is a lawyer and member of the Law Society of Ontario. He practices employment, labour and administrative law in Ontario and Federally, in both French and English. He holds a Bilingual Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Alberta’s Faculty St. Jean and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law’s French Common Law Program. Mr. Létourneau is active in the French Language Community of Ontario with over a decade of volunteer involvement.

MERYL GARY

Meryl Zisman Gary is a Toronto lawyer specializing in human rights and labour law. She holds a B.A. in philosophy from Dalhousie University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Osgoode Hall Law School. Meryl previously practiced equality and human rights law at a social justice firm in Toronto, and then served as a writer, editor, and Legal Director at Lancaster House Publishing. Meryl also taught constitutional law in Osgoode Hall's Professional LL.M. program for a number of years. Her past community involvement includes volunteering with Lawyers Feed the Hungry and serving on the Board of Directors of a community mental health organization.

STEVE SCHENKE

Steve Schenke, of London, is a Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court and a Lawyer with Lerners LLP. He is a former Adjunct Professor of Law with the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario.

NINDER THIND

Ninder Thind serves as a full- time member at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. She is a distinguished community leader with an accomplished career and with over twenty years of experience in public service. She has served with the Government of Canada as the Chief of Staff for the Parliamentary Secretary of Veterans Affairs and International Trade, the Municipal Government as an Advisor for Special Projects to the Commissioner of Corporate Support Services, and the Regional Government serving high risk families in the Public Health Department. Prior to that, she worked in the private sector as an accomplished school Principal. Ninder also possesses extensive volunteer experience working alongside communities and charitable organizations providing humanitarian aid both locally and internationally.

SALLY ASHTON

Sally Ashton worked for many years for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, first as counsel with the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, and then for many years seconded to resource ministries with a practice focussed on Indigenous rights and issues, information and privacy, and provincial prosecutions. She has also worked as senior counsel to the Law Society of Ontario on strategic issues including access to justice, diversity and equity, and government relations. She has always been active in her communities including as a member of the Board of Directors her local hospital and library, a crisis responder for Victim Services, and a surveyor of flora and fauna with local conservancy organizations.

BLAIR ROBLIN

Blair Roblin is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators. He holds a PhD in health services research, a master’s degree in critical disability studies, an LLB, and an MBA. He is currently a senior lawyer and presiding member with the Consent and Capacity Board of Ontario. Blair's non-profit board experience includes March of Dimes Canada where he served as board chair, Stroke Recovery Association of British Columbia, and West End YMCA of Toronto. His volunteer experience includes palliative care and renal dialysis care with Halton Healthcare.

JOELLE MALETTE

Joelle Malette is the founder of Malette ADR | RED, a bilingual, advanced dispute resolution practice based in Timmins and serving all of Ontario. Her areas of mediation include personal injury, breach of contract, institutional sexual assault liability claims, medical malpractice, employment law, and more. As well, she provides workplace conflict consultation and investigations, mediation-arbitration, and negotiation training. Before founding her practice in 2021, Joelle practiced at Wallbridge Wallbridge for 16 years. Over her career, she has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal and several administrative tribunals. Joelle is an adjudicator for the Transport Appeal Tribunal of Canada, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Social Benefits Tribunal. She is an adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa’s law school. Joelle was awarded a Bachelor of Arts and LL.B. by the University of Ottawa, and is currently completing a Masters in Dispute Resolution at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.

ROBERT AVINOAM

Robert Avinoam has been a labour and employment lawyer for over 30 years with experience in human rights law. He taught negotiation skills and law courses at the University of Toronto and Lakehead University. Robert is currently a Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court and a part time member of the Landlord and Tenant Tribunal. He has a special interest in alternative dispute resolution and has trained in advanced negotiation and collective bargaining at Harvard Law School, Program of Instruction for Lawyers. Robert wholeheartedly believes that helping parties resolve their disputes without having to proceed to formal adjudication or trial is almost always in their mutual interest.

AMANDA HOTRUM

Amanda Hotrum holds an MSW and an LLM in Administrative Law focusing on designing systems for administrative justice. Ms. Hotrum has taught human rights law at the university level and has more than 25 years of experience leading and specializing in human rights dispute resolution within the public and private sectors.

ASHLEY DEATHE

Ashley Deathe, of Ottawa, is a lawyer and Workplace Investigator at The Law Offices of Ashley Deathe. She is also a Roster Assessor for Federal Court appointments. Her community involvement includes serving as Vice-President, Board of Directors for the Crossroads Children's Mental Health Centre.

MEGHAN FERGUSON

Meghan Ferguson practiced law and has taught law for the almost 20 years. She has extensive experience in human rights, civil, employment and labour law, as well as mental health and trauma informed training. Meghan graduated from the University of Toronto and obtained her law degree from the University of Ottawa.

RESHMA KISHNANI

Reshma Kishnani has a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor. She was called to the bar of Ontario in 2011 and has fostered extensive experience in civil litigation, employment and estates litigation. Reshma assists parties to engage in effective dispute resolution strategies to resolve their legal issues. Reshma has been an active board member of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto. Prior to launching her legal career, Reshma was actively involved in advocacy and campaign development with the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

ALEXANDRA CAMPBELL

Alexandra Campbell was called to the Ontario Bar in 2008. She worked as a criminal lawyer for several years, was a staff lawyer for The Long-Term Care Homes Public Inquiry, and currently works as a bioethicist at Unity Health Toronto. She holds an LL.M. and a M.H.Sc. (bioethics) from the University of Toronto, and a J.D./B.C.L. from McGill University.

FIDELIS (PHIL) DEBRUYNE

Phil was an instructor at the Ontario Police College for over 26 years. He taught for over 10 years at the post-secondary level on the topics of Police Governance and Professional Standards in Policing.

STEPHANIE MARENTETTE

Stephanie Marentette is a commercial litigator at a large provincial law firm, practicing in London, Ontario. She is passionate about serving her community and presently acts a director for a local hospital board and commissioner for a local transit authority. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with Great Dane, Briz, running, travelling, and studying ballet and piano.

SEAN WEIR

Sean Weir was CEO of Canada’s largest national law firm from 2000 to July 1, 2018. In his legal practice, Mr. Weir advised financial institutions, corporations and major pension funds. Active in his community, Mr. Weir served as an elected Councillor of the Town of Oakville, a director of the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and a Director and Chair of Oakville Hydro. Mr. Weir was named a “Diversity Champion” by Women of Influence Magazine, received the Lexpert Zenith Managing Partner Award for Corporate Social Responsibility and was listed in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.