Kamaljit kaur Lehal received her law degree in 1989 from the University of British Columbia and was called to the bar in 1990. She opened her own law firm in 1992, Lehal Law Corporation, focused exclusively on immigration law. Kamaljit is a certified civil and family mediator, as well as a Qualified Arbitrator. She is an active member of the CBA National WLF and Vice-Chair of the CBA National Immigration Section. She is actively involved in policy reform and advocacy for immigrant women who are victims of intimate partner violence, and her advocacy was instrumental in the creation of an expedited immigration process for these victims.

Carey Majid, KC (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission, an independent at-arm’s length government agency that is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in the province. Carey founded Community Justice Connect (CJC) and through her leadership is redesigning the human rights complaint process. Carey is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience. She also teaches the Law Society’s bar admission course on human rights and regularly presents on human rights and social justice issues.

Monica Chohan is a lawyer, consultant, and facilitator with deep interrelated expertise in governance, strategic planning, and workplace challenges. More importantly, Monica is a child of immigrants, woman of colour, neurodiverse, and unabashed feminist. She launched Chohan Law and Wilbrod House Consulting in 2017. Her TIP Community of Practice brings together professionals from the legal, HR, investigations, mediations and conflict resolution fields so they can learn with each other as they strive to embed trauma-informed principles and approaches into their everyday practices.

Helgi Maki is an author, executive coach, and consultant at Generativity Co. She is a former lawyer who has helped legal professionals navigate career challenges with resilience-focused training and professional coaching since 2017. Helgi also advocates for trauma-informed legal innovation to increase access to justice. She is a co-editor and co-author of Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Lawyer Resilience and Healing. https://helgimaki.co/ @helgi.maki

Swaysən (Will George), grassroots leader and Guardian of the Kwekwecnewtxw (Coast Salish Watch), is a land defender and community organizer from Tsleil-Waututh Nation. An outspoken critic of industrialization projects in the Salish Sea, Swaysən chooses to use direct action, media, and traditional and ancestral knowledge as his tools for action, galvanizing the public, business leaders, and politicians to enact change. In 2019, he worked with the COEXTINCTION team to showcase the threats caused by the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project on orca and salmon in the waters of the Burrard Inlet – waters that have sustained his people for thousands of years. Swaysən leads with a strong heart and mind, bringing forward important messages for humanity in his work.

Megan Capp is a scholar/practitioner with over 15 years of experience developing programs and initiatives for people in situations of vulnerability.  She was instrumental in the development of Hearthstone Place, Abbotsford’s first low barrier supportive housing site. She has also implemented many projects relating to seniors, those experiencing food insecurity, those experiencing legal issues, and more. As a doctoral student at the UN University for Peace, Megan focuses on adapting the criminal justice response to more adequately protect children whose parents come into conflict with the law.

Jenna Seyidoglu is a second-year law student at the University of Ottawa in the English Common Law program. She has a background in Health Sciences, concentrated on Disability and Chronic Illness. Her undergraduate thesis, entitled “Trauma- and Violence-Informed Training in Mental Health Law: A Legal Professionals' Perspective” explored the perspectives of mental health lawyers on the implementation and impact of trauma- and violence-informed lawyering on their practice.

Agnes Chen is a registered nurse focused on anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approaches to health and well-being. She founded Starlings Community (now Family Advocacy Support Centre) to address systemic barriers to health equity for systemically vulnerable families. Whether facilitating peer groups, educating frontline staff, or developing innovative resources, her work as a peer and professional is rooted in transformative justice approaches to care that ensure families can seek out support for their mental health without fear of discrimination, criminalization, or family separation.

Dan Jones retired from the Edmonton Police Service after 25 years of service. He worked in General Patrol, Foot Patrol, Undercover Operations and Gang Unit as a Constable, Professional Standards Branch, and Homicide Section as a Detective, General Patrol as a Staff Sergeant, as well as Investigative Support Branch Downtown Division Patrol and Research as an Inspector. He earned a Master’s Degree in Applied Criminology from the University of Cambridge where his research focused on the victim/offender overlap and the impact that trauma has on the justice client. Dan is currently the Chair of Justice Studies at NorQuest College.

Natalie Netzel is an Associate Professor and Director of the Clinical Legal Education Program Mitchell Hamline School of Law where she is an Affiliated Professor with the Institute to Transform Child Protection. She teaches courses on criminal law, evidence law, child welfare law, and law student well-being. She supervises law students representing parents and relatives in the child welfare system. Before law school she obtained an M.S.E. in Counseling. She is the author of Trauma-Informed (as a Matter of) Course, an article which details how law professors can deliver trauma-informed legal education.

Catherine Ann Kelly (she/her) is the Lead Facilitator with Community Justice Connect (CJC), a restorative justice program with the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission. CJC provides a variety of conflict resolution and restorative justice (RJ) services to Indigenous, racialized, and religious minority communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Catherine has been practicing and living RJ since the late 90s - in community, federal institutions, schools and most importantly, with her family.

Heather Hart practices as a  Mental Health Therapist specializing in somatic-based treatments. She received in B.A in International Studies and M.A. in Social Work from USC. She is fully Certified by the EMDR Institute, is trained in MDMA therapy as a trainee from MAPS, and specializes in Ego State work. She works through the lens of her Indigenous lineage, calling forth integrative systems work. Heather focuses much of her work on building community support, education, learning and programs.

Imran Kamal is Crown Counsel for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, specializing in Indigenous rights. In 2021, Imran was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine. Imran has vulnerably shared his experience, strength and hope in recovering from addiction with the goal of de-stigmatizing mental health and addiction in society and in the legal profession. With over 7 years of recovery, Imran has dedicated himself to supporting others recovering from addiction.

Robert Seymour Wright is a Social Worker and Sociologist whose 34-year career has spanned the fields of education, child welfare, forensic mental health, trauma, sexual violence, and cultural competence. A “clinician/academic/administrator,” he has always integrated his direct clinical practice with teaching, supervising, and promoting lasting systemic change through social policy advocacy. His extensive pro bono work gave birth to The Peoples' Counselling Clinic, a non-profit mental health clinic. Robert’s pioneering work in cultural competence and conducting cultural assessments received national attention which has proved instrumental in the advancement of the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute.

Megan Vis-Dunbar is a staff lawyer with the BCLI/CCEL and Director of the Reconciling Crown Legal Frameworks Program. Prior to joining the BCLI, Megan practiced in the areas of criminal and constitutional law and worked as a research lawyer. She also worked with Courthouse Libraries BC where she coordinated the legal community training program.

Kelly Melynk is the Director of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2017. Passionate about issues impacting vulnerable clients, specifically those in the aging population, Kelly has focused much of her career on examining issues of capacity, advance planning in the legal context, and legal decision-making. Kelly sat as a board member with the Centre for Seniors Information in Kamloops for three terms and continues to sit as a board member with the Kamloops Bar Association, as well as a Director for Access Pro Bono.

Si Liew is a bestselling author, Neuro-Transformational Trainer, dedicated environment activist, Director of Wellness for NAAAP Toronto, and an Occupational Health Nurse for over 20 years. With a profound commitment to fostering positive change, Si specializes in teaching individuals to cultivate healthier lives and address emotional stresses. Her approach integrates philosophy, epigenetics, quantum physics, and neuroscience techniques to facilitate transformative personal growth.

Dr. Caroline Bruce is the Head of Programme for Trauma and Justice within the National Trauma Transformation Programme at NHS Education for Scotland, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Mental Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow. She holds a PhD in Forensic Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is the lead author of “Trauma Informed Justice: A Knowledge and Skills Framework for Working with Victims and Witnesses,” and has developed and delivered trauma-informed training for a wide range of justice organizations and professionals.

Susan O’Neil is an immigrant from Australia and mother of two, with a professional background in law, sales and marketing, and change management. Susan completed her undergraduate studies in chemistry and her law degree at Monash University in Melbourne, and then completed her MBA at the University of Alberta. Susan currently undertakes legal research and informal advocacy, while continuing her longstanding commitment to volunteerism in the areas of public education advocacy, student well-being, and law. She joined Monica Chohan in co-facilitating a Community of Practice in Trauma-informed Justice in January 2023.

Renae Stevenson (MA RCC CMT-P) retired from policing after 23 years as a law enforcement officer due to an on-duty spinal injury and several operational stress injuries. Through mindfulness and plant medicine, she manages the daily challenges of PTSD and Complex Chronic Pain. Renae’s education includes Criminology, Leadership, Education, Counselling Psychology, and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT). She is recently published on both mindfulness and PAT in the Journal of Community Safety & Well-Being. Renae is also a Certified Mindfulness Teacher.

Sharon H. Pratchler, K.C. has worked in all three branches of government – as Crown Counsel and a Prosecutor in executive government, as Registrar of the two trial Courts in Saskatchewan and most recently, as a Legislative Officer – the Ombudsman and Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner for Saskatchewan. Over 30 years as a lawyer, she has worked in conflict resolution in a variety of ways. Her office has established a Toolbox Series on how to resolve conflict while providing administratively fair decisions. One of her priorities has been introducing trauma-informed practices into her office’s complaint resolution processes.

Dr. Tegan Brierley-Solis is a lecturer in policing, criminology, and trauma-informed approaches at Wrexham University. She is a member of Cyfiawnder: The Social Inclusion Research Institute and the Trauma and ACE (TrACE) informed university project. During her PhD studies, Tegan created a concept to explain trauma and trauma-informed practice in a clear and accessible way which has since been developed into an animation titled ‘Navigating the Storm’. Tegan’s PhD explored the emerging trauma-informed culture of North Wakes Youth Justice Service. She is also on the Academic Development Team for developing a trauma-informed university

Trish McOrmond is a Metis trauma-informed sociologist and change navigator. Using a change map grounded in the Seven Grandfather Teachings, she supports people and organizations in developing a vision and plan for their future. Her practice is grounded in decolonial principles of self-actualization and reconciliation. Trish is the Psychosocial, Policy, and Trauma-Informed Practice Lead with Hazardscape, an organization that works predominantly with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities and governing bodies across the emergency management spectrum, including operational and strategic long-term recovery from disasters and/or extended evacuations.

Alec Smidt combines expertise from consulting, corporate technology, and academic research to enable companies and their leaders to build more effective and successful organizations. He is an expert on how people relate and interact with organizations, particularly institutional betrayal and institutional courage. He regularly publishes popular articles and in scientific journals. Alec holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon and completed his residency and fellowship at Yale. He is Co-Founder of Alto Group. https://www.altogroup.co/

Jennifer Freyd is an expert in trauma psychology and the creator of the concepts of institutional betrayal, institutional courage, and DARVO. She is a widely published and award-winning author and researcher, having published two books and over 200 articles and op-eds, with over 30 years of research experience. She regularly serves as an expert witness and consultant in criminal and civil cases. Jennifer holds a PhD in psychology from Stanford and is Professor Emerit at the University of Oregon. She Co-Founder of Alto Group. https://www.altogroup.co/

Corporal Jennifer Demers has a combined twenty-four years dedicated to serving Canada. For seven of those years, she was employed as a soldier in the Canadian Armed forces, and she dedicated seventeen years to municipal and federal policing in the RCMP. After surviving various traumatic events and experiencing alternative holistic healing modalities, she has dedicated herself to employee wellness and peer support. Jennifer is currently studying first responder trauma prevention and recovery at Simon Fraser University, and the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy in trauma recovery.

Raheena Lalani Dahya is a family law and community mediator in Toronto, a professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution at Humber College, and a faculty member of family law mediation programs at various institutions in Canada. Her academic focus is on the application of equity, diversity, and inclusion; trauma-informed; and interpersonal neurobiology principles to the practice mediation, particularly ‘high stakes’ disputes, and to conflict resolution in an algorithmic society. Raheena is an avid yoga practitioner and a certified yoga teacher.

Shawna Paris-Hoyte ONS, KC, RSW is an accomplished professional with an extensive law and clinical social work background. She is a fifth-generation Black Nova Scotian with four degrees, including three years of doctoral-level social work studies towards a PhD in trans/inter-generational trauma at Memorial University. Her dual-professional specialty in law and social work practice makes her a rare practitioner in Canada. As of March, Shawna has taken a leave from her legal practice to take on the role of Executive Director of the African Nova Scotia Justice Institute.

Brenda Yuen (she/her) is a second-generation Chinese cis-gendered person currently living on the unceded Squw'utsun Tumuhw (land of the Cowichan People) in what is colonially known as Cobble Hill, BC. She is a lawyer and researcher with over 15 years of experience in legal analysis and 7 years of experience as legal counsel. Brenda researched trauma-informed law and emotions acknowledgment for her Master of Laws degree. She also has experience researching for and with an Indigenous community.

Lisa Tootoo is of mixed ancestry; her mother is Plains Cree from Treaty 6, and her father is francophone. She holds a BPA in Criminal Justice and has over 15 years of experience as a public servant with the Government of Nunavut, where she trained others to be Restorative Justice Facilitators and facilitated many restorative processes. She also oversaw programs and services specific to those experiencing family violence, crime prevention, public safety and family wellness. In 2021, she became a Certified Gladue Writer. In 2022, after moving to the Ottawa region, she began delivering modules of The Path, to help individuals increase their knowledge of cultural awareness of Indigenous peoples across Canada. As an Indigenous woman, she is guided by the values of her Cree background.

Maria Dussan (she/her) is a Community Facilitator and Project Coordinator with Community Justice Connect (CJC). Maria’s work with CJC has focused on coordinating the development of a restorative justice process within the context of the NL Human Rights Commission. Maria is also an anti-racist and migrant justice organizer with the Anti-Racism Coalition NL, a member of the Transformative Justice Committee of the Social Justice Cooperative NL, and a former member of the advisory committee of the Alliance for Racialized, Refugee, and Im/migrant Women.

Rueben George is a Sundance Chief, a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN), and a Family Counsellor with 25 years of experience in the healing field. As Manager of Sacred Trust for TWN’s initiative to protect Burrard Inlet, traditional Tsleil-Waututh territory, from the proposed Kinder-Morgan/TMX pipeline, he has travelled the world creating allies with Indigenous people who stand for water, land, and human rights. Rueben is the author of the bestselling book “It Stops Here.” He is a spiritual leader who was adopted and made a Sundance Chief by two Lakota families, and is also involved in his Coast Salish culture and ceremonies.

Charmaine Parenteau is Cree-Metis from Treaty 6, Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. She started her policing career over twenty years ago in Standoff, Alberta for the Blood Tribe Police Service and years later joined the RCMP. She is currently a National Crisis Negotiator. Charmaine is a graduate from her grandmother’s teachings, as well as Simon Fraser University studying Trauma, Prevention, and Recovery. She is currently transforming into a butterfly as a yoga teacher.

Zara Suleman is the founder of Suleman Family Law where she practices family law and fertility law in British Columbia. She is a certified family law mediator and collaborative law practitioner. She is also a writer, trainer, and coach. Zara is currently on the Board of Governors for the Law Foundation of BC. She is the Chair of the BC Law Institute Research Project on the Review of Legal Parentage under the Family Law Act, and she sits on the Advisory for the FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children. https://www.thebusinessofbreakups.com/ @thebusinessofbreakups

Barbara Tarbell is a Mohawk woman from the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. Her Mohawk name is Katenies (Ga-den-yes, meaning ‘she makes change’) and she is a wolf clan member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation Longhouse. Barbara worked for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Environment Division for over 20 years as the Manager of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Program. She evaluated injury to ecological resources and subsequent loss of cultural practices resulting from the release of industrial facility related contaminants. She then transitioned to design and implement cultural restoration projects including the Akwesasne Cultural Restoration (ACR) Program. Barbara continues to be devoted to the survival of the Mohawk language, environmental justice issues, and national networking with Tribal Nations who have been affected by industrial contamination.

Christina Burke is an Irish Barrister and trauma-informed lawyer who works in criminal defence. She represents people who have faced childhood trauma, addiction, mental health, and discrimination. She also teaches human rights law, ethics in custodial care, and lectures on criminology in universities. Christina is a researcher at the Facts and Norms Institute and has published extensively in the areas of human rights and disability law. Using case study examples her paper addresses the transformative influence of a trauma-informed approach in Irish courtrooms.