Appointee Biographies

LAURA HODGSON

Laura Hodgson was Legal Counsel with the Federal Department of Justice, Criminal Law Policy Section and prior to this was Crown Counsel (criminal appeals) with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. Ms. Hodgson clerked at the Ontario Court of Appeal before her call to the bar. Ms. Hodgson has also taught Criminal Law and Procedure at the University of Ottawa, Common law section. Her community involvement includes Ottawa Centre Refugee Action, and Tungasuvvingat Inuit.

EMILY MORTON

Emily Morton graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto in 2002 with a J.D. (Hon). She completed her articles of clerkship for the Justices of the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 2003. Ms. Morton was employed at Simpson Thacher and Bartlett LLP in New York City and at Ruby & Edwardh in Toronto as an associate lawyer for the first three years of her practice. Since 2006, she has run a solo practice focusing on criminal appeals. Ms. Morton is a member of the Pro Bono Inmate Appeal Program and has taught Evidence as adjunct faculty at Osgoode Hall Law School. She was legal editor of the Canadian Criminal Cases for several years.

COLIN OSTERBERG

Colin Osterberg has been a lawyer for more than 30 years and currently serves as a Vice-Chair (part-time) for the Licence Appeal Tribunal, a Deputy Judge of the Ontario Small Claims Court, and is an owner and mediator for CO Mediations. He previously had a private practice in civil litigation for more than 25 years.

LOUISE CHARETTE

Louise Charette is a graduate of the University of Ottawa French Common Law Program. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Charette was employed with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for a number of years. During her employment with this Ministry, she held different positions within the provincial correctional system working within the institutional setting and with offenders in the community. As a lawyer, she started her career with the Ministry of the Attorney General working primarily as a per diem Assistant Crown Attorney. She later acquired experience as duty counsel representing the accused. Ms. Charette was previously a part time member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board as well as the Social Benefits Tribunal.

NICOLE GAJRAJ

Nicole Gajraj is an accomplished public servant, having worked with the Centre of Forensic Sciences as a Senior Forensic Scientist. Following this, Ms Gajraj conducted investigations under the provisions of The Law Society Act with the Law Society of Ontario's Professional Regulations Department. Most recently, her work has focused on combating human trafficking for five Police Services in Grey and Bruce County. Ms Gajraj holds a Master’s in Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Justice System Administration (GradDIP). She has testified as an expert witness at all levels of Court in Ontario and has been a visiting Instructor with the Ontario Police College. Her community involvement has included being a Director with Crime Stoppers and a member of The Blue Mountains Arts and Culture Council. Ms Gajraj is a proud advocate for the LGBTQ community.

STEPHANIE ZWICKER SLAVENS

Stephanie Zwicker Slavens is the Full-time Associate Chair of the Animal Care Review Board and the Part-time Associate Chair of Fire Safety Commission since her appointment in December 2022 (Acting Associate Chair since April 2022). She is also an Acting Associate Chair at the Human Rights Tribunal, Part-time Vice Chair at the Social Benefits Tribunal, Ontario Special Education Tribunal (English) and a Part-time Member to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. Ms. Zwicker Slavens has over two decades of experience representing injured parties and insurers in various levels of the courts as well as adjudicative tribunals. During this time, she utilized her significant mediation and legislative interpretation skills, and applied her substantive knowledge to advocate for her clients. Stephanie has provided strategic guidance and leadership including implementation of tribunal specific and organization-wide initiatives. In addition, she has been involved in the streamlining of tribunal processes and developing collaborative approaches for ensuring services are delivered both efficiently and effectively.

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.