Ayumi Bailly

Pay Equity Office, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

Ayumi joined the Pay Equity Office in 2019 as Director. The Pay Equity Office is responsible for administering Ontario’s Pay Equity Act. Ayumi previously served as the Registrar for the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal in the late 1990s. In the intervening time, she has held executive roles in various provincial ministries, including leading the policy development and legislative drafting for statutes such as the Public Service of Ontario Act and the Cabinet Ministers’ and Opposition Leaders’ Expenses Review and Accountability Act. Her roles within the Ontario government and in the not-for-profit sector enabled her to work in a wide range of subject areas, including public sector governance and accountability, occupational health and safety, stakeholder relations, public legal education and information, and freedom of information and protection of privacy. From 2021 to 2024, she served as the Treasurer of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators, and was honoured to receive the Society’s annual Medal in 2012. 

Celina Caesar-Chavannes

Entrepreneur

Celina Caesar-Chavannes is a visionary leader at the intersection of neuroscience, leadership, and social transformation. Currently a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Queen’s University, her research explores how cognitive and emotional processes influence leadership, decision-making, and self-actualization. She applies these insights through The Awakened Leadership Institute (TALI), which she founded in 2024 to equip individuals and organizations with neuroscience-backed strategies for authentic leadership, fostering self-awareness, well-being, and transformation. Her fearless advocacy for mental health, equity, and social justice earned recognition from O (Oprah) Magazine, Chatelaine, and numerous national and international platforms.  

Celina’s academic credentials include an Executive MBA from the Rotman School of Management, an MBA in Healthcare Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. She is also a certified health and meditation coach. She founded Resolve Research Solutions Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with neurological conditions.  

Her best-selling memoir, Can You Hear Me Now? (Random House Canada), and her contributions to various publications cement her expertise in leadership, diversity, and social change. A sought-after speaker, she has delivered talks at the United Nations, Harvard University, and other global forums, sharing insights on neuroscience, leadership, and social justice.  

Celina has received numerous accolades, including Chatelaine Woman of the Year and the Mental Health Parliamentarian Award. Through her work, she remains committed to transforming lives, fostering inclusivity, and restoring our collective humanity with joy. 

Esi Codjoe

Partner, TurnpenneyMilne LLP

Esi is a partner at Turnpenney Milne LLP, her practice focuses on workplace law including, employment law, human rights law, training, and investigations. Esi also mediates employment and human rights disputes. She is a previous Vice Chair at the Human Rights Tribunal. Esi taught Business Law and Labour and Employment Law at Toronto Metropolitan University.  

Esi was legal counsel, employee/labour relations at McMaster University; she provided advice on employment and labour matters. She was in-house litigation counsel at the Ontario Nurses’ Association where she litigated grievance arbitration cases and provided advice on human rights matters.   

Esi was an executive member of the OBA’s Labour and Employment Law Section from 2019-2022, and is a current executive member of the OBA’s Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law Section.  She was the Toronto Regional Director on the OBA Board of Directors and member of the Governance Committee.  Esi is a past chair of the OBA Equality Committee. She has served as the Secretary, and Director of Professional Development for the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. In 2018 Esi was named as one of Canadian Lawyer Magazine’s Top 25 lawyers in the area of Human Rights. In 2019 she was awarded a Lexpert Zenith award as a Change Agent in Law. Esi was also the recipient of the OBA’s Joel Kuchar Award for Professionalism & Civility in 2020

Matt Dewar

Founding Partner, Duntrune LLP

As a founding partner at Duntrune LLP, Matt has practiced employment law in all of its forms for over 20 years. Representing both employers and employees, his brings his experience to bear in helping to find a solution.  

Matt has appeared before various courts and administrative tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (including the Employment Standards Branch), the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and the Federal Court of Appeal.  

When he’s not busy successfully advocating on behalf of his clients, he enjoys reliving his former career as a professional musician and can be found performing throughout the local music scene. 

Kristin Eliot

Senior Investigator and Mediator, Barker Hutchinson & Associates

Kristin Eliot is a lawyer and senior workplace investigator who has over twenty-five years of experience in labour, employment and human rights matters.  She regularly conducts trauma-informed, high profile investigations involving complex allegations of workplace harassment, discrimination and violence on behalf of a variety of government ministries as well as several broader public sector agencies, municipalities, and for private industry.  Kristin has extensive experience over the last two decades on cases relating to sexual harassment / sexual assault and gender-based discrimination in the workplace.  She has conducted several investigations involving allegations of anti-Black racism. Kristin was previously an adjunct professor at Queens University, where she taught law, mediation and collective agreement administration.  She has also served as a Provincial Labour Arbitrator. 

Cassandra Fultz, RCIC-IRB

Founder and Senior Consultant, Doherty Fultz Immigration

Originally from the United States, Cassandra immigrated to Canada in 2008. Cassandra began her career in the Canadian immigration industry in 2009 and subsequently founded Doherty Fultz Immigration, located in Toronto, in 2014.  

Cassandra holds the designation of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (R#514356), which she received in 2015. She also holds the credential of Specialization for the Immigration and Refugee Board, which is the Canadian immigration tribunal deciding refugee claims and appeals.  

At Doherty Fultz Immigration, Cassandra specializes in immigration cases pertaining to Procedural Fairness Letters (PFL), post-deportation Authorization to Return to Canada requests, and PR Card Renewal on Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds. She also has extensive experience and a very high success rate with Criminal Rehabilitation, Study Permit applications with prior refusals, Temporary Resident Permits, Canadian citizenship, Family Sponsorship, and Visitor Visas.   

Cassandra is dedicated to making Canadian immigration accessible to all applicants by providing straightforward and easy to understand immigration advice so that clients can plan for their futures in Canada.  

Given her extensive experience in the immigration field, Cassandra is a regular contributor to discussions pertaining to current immigration issues on Global News Toronto and nationwide Global News Radio stations, among other news agencies across Canada.  

Cassandra is also the Program Director and an instructor of the Immigration Case Manager program at Herzing College Toronto Campus, where she teaches immigration law, mentors students, and contributes to ongoing course development. She was named Herzing College Faculty of the Year for all of Canada in 2021.  

Cassandra is also a Sommelier certified by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers. 

Diana Holloway

Associate, Employment and Labour, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Diana is an Associate in Osler’s Employment and Labour group. Diana advises and represents both private and public sector employers on a wide range of issues in labour relations and employment law, including employment contracts and workplace policies, employee terminations, employment standards legislation, human rights and accommodation, occupational health and safety, and collective bargaining matters. She also has a particular focus on workplace harassment issues, workplace mental health issues, workplace investigations, and education law.

As a passionate advocate, Diana routinely represents clients in employment litigation, grievance arbitrations, and proceedings in a variety of forums, including civil court, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Ontario Labour Relations Board, and the Ministry of Labour.

Diana joined the firm as an associate in 2020, prior to which she articled and was an associate at a pre-eminent employment and labour boutique.

Roland Hung

Corporate/Commercial and Technology, Privacy & Data Management Groups, Torkin Manes LLP

A partner in Torkin Mane’s Corporate/Commercial and Technology, Privacy & Data Management Groups, Roland Hung’s practice encompasses all aspects of business law, with emphasis on technology, privacy compliance, cybersecurity and data management. His diverse career path, which includes roles as former Senior Legal Counsel and Global Privacy Officer at a large multinational, as well as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of a technology company, gives Roland a broad and unique perspective, enabling him to fuel his clients with practical solutions that are relevant to their businesses.

In his role, Roland provides a wide range of privacy and data management counsel, leveraging his knowledge to provide strategic privacy compliance, cybersecurity and data management advice to organizations, including financial institutions, manufacturing, pharmaceutical companies, information technology providers, municipalities, educational and medical institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. Clients have relied on Roland to assist them in not only meeting industry standards and government requirements, but also navigating complex legal and privacy compliance requirements of new products and technologies within Canada and across other jurisdictions. His clients benefit from his expertise in handling issues raised by artificial intelligence, social media, surveillance, identification and authentication (including biometrics and electronic signatures), vehicle and device telematics, drones, online behavioural advertising, big data and data analytics, and data monetization. He also advised clients on the data management and privacy issues related to business transactions.

Leveraging his exceptional advocacy skills, Roland has appeared before administrative boards, privacy regulators, provincial and federal courts, mediators (including mediators before the Federal Court), and arbitrators on various issues ranging from commercial disputes to privacy matters. He has advised and represented clients in matters regarding privacy requests, complaints, cross-border transactions, privacy audits, breach notification and court actions for damages.

Roland provides clients with creative solutions and strategic advice on a wide range of technology-related transactions. He also provides guidance to organizations applying emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain.

To complement his practice, Roland has spoken at various conferences, seminars, and associations, including the Canadian Institute Advertising & Marketing Law Conference, the Ontario Bar Association, the Lexpert Social Media Law Conference, the Federated Press Cloud Computing Conference, the Law Society of Ontario’s Employment Law Summit, and the Canadian Bar Association. He was also the recent Co-Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Privacy Summit.

Laura Hutchinson

Co-CEO and Investigator, Barker Hutchinson & Associates Ltd.

Laura Hutchinson is the Co-CEO of Barker Hutchinson, a workplace and regulatory investigations firm that has conducted over 400 investigations into sexual misconduct.

Laura is a respected speaker and trainer on the topic of person-centred, trauma-informed investigation practices. Laura draws on her extensive investigative experience and healthcare knowledge to train investigators from a wide variety of backgrounds on the impact of trauma and its practical application to investigative practice. Laura also designed and leads Canada’s first comprehensive training course on the Fundamentals of Regulatory Investigations.

As an investigator, Laura has conducted and supervised hundreds of investigations related to sexual misconduct, professional misconduct, financial impropriety, and a variety of other concerns, most commonly in healthcare settings. Laura is also responsible for the firm’s operations, ensuring our team has the tools necessary to effectively complete sophisticated, trauma-informed investigations.

Louis-George Mongeau

Senior Advisor, Desjardins Financial Security

Louis-Georges works closely with Desjardins’ legal and compliance departments as well as with the main sectors of Group Retirement Savings (GRS). He ensures that the business line is aware of the latest legislative changes and industry best practices. Additionally, he supports the various GRS sectors in the development and implementation of solutions for our clients. His expertise is also utilized on an internal committee or various pan-Canadian committees related to the evolution of laws and practices in the pension plan industry. 

Louis-Georges holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Laval University and is a member of the Quebec Bar. He has more than 35 years of experience in the industry and in the field of employee benefits in Canada. 

Behnam Nadimfard

Associate Lawyer, Appiah Law

Behnam Nadimfard is an Associate Lawyer at Appiah Law | Employment + Labour Counsel. With a robust academic foundation and diverse professional experiences, Behnam is dedicated to providing strategic, solution-oriented legal services to employers and employees across various industries. 

Prior to joining Appiah Law, Behnam completed his legal training at a leading Bay Street employment law firm, where he supported lead counsel in complex arbitrations and court matters before various tribunals and courts, including the Ontario Labour Relations Board, Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, and Ontario Superior Court of Justice. His legal expertise encompasses a wide range of employment and labour law issues, including wrongful dismissal, workplace harassment, workplace safety, and human rights accommodations. Behnam also has extensive experience in drafting legal submissions, mediation briefs, and preparing witnesses for litigation, making him a valuable advocate for clients facing intricate legal challenges. 

Behnam received his Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, where he actively participated in various moot competitions such as the Lerners Cup, Dentons Negotiations Cup, Frozen Open Osgoode Moot, and the Hicks Morley Cup. During his time at Osgoode, Behnam served as a Research Assistant, contributing to research in contemporary employment issues. His leadership experience extends to co-founding the Osgoode Middle Eastern Student Law Association and serving as Treasurer for the Osgoode Labour and Employment Law Society. He also served as the Team Leader of the Osgoode Mediation Clinic, where he supervised the clinic’s operations and ensured that clients received satisfactory mediation services. 

Behnam also holds a Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resources from the University of Toronto, which has equipped him with a unique understanding of labour relations, and workplace issues. This background enables him to offer a comprehensive approach to client needs, combining legal precision with a deep understanding of human resources dynamics. 

Behnam’s commitment to justice and client-focused advocacy is evident in his approach to every legal matter. He strives to provide clear, pragmatic advice and ensures his clients are fully informed and empowered throughout the legal process. 

Outside of his legal career, Behnam is a competitive soccer player, avid snowboarder, and enjoys analog photography. He also has a passion for crate digging vinyl records, particularly rare blues albums. Fluent in Farsi and with a basic command of Arabic, Behnam is passionate about fostering connections within diverse communities. 

Kadie Philp

Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer, Ontario Pay Equity Commission

Commissioner Kadie Philp is a seasoned executive whose career has been characterized by successful collaboration across public, private, and not-for-profit organizations to design and deliver inclusive economic growth strategies. Before joining the Ontario Pay Equity Commission in 2020, Commissioner Philp worked on implementing aspects of the Federal Government’s “Feminist International Assistance Policy” where she increased women’s participation in international trade, the labour market, and equitable participation of men and women in their local economy. Her expertise has taken her around the world working with legislators to establish programs and legislation that support women-led micro and small enterprises. She is a member of the Globe and Mail’s Women’s Collective, is a regular contributor to the OECD Forum, an active member of UN Women delegations and has been invited to World Economic Forum Davos two consecutive years to present on community-led economic growth. Commissioner Philp is a Queens’s Diamond Jubilee Medalist, recognized for her work contributing to significant economic improvement in various Canadian cities. Commissioner Philp firmly believes that equity and inclusion are the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity.  

Aleksandra Pressey

Partner, Williams HR Law

Aleksandra is a partner at Williams HR Law LLP, where she practices in all areas of labour, employment, and human rights law. She provides strategic advice and representation on issues including accommodation, discipline, termination, and legislative compliance. Aleksandra also conducts complex, trauma-informed workplace investigations and organizational culture reviews as a neutral third party across a range of sectors, including municipalities. A frequent speaker and writer, she also conducts training on a variety of HR law topics. 

Hena Singh (she/her)

Partner, Singh Lamarche LLP & Singh Investigations and Mediations

Hena Singh is the founding partner of Singh Investigations & Mediations and a founding partner of Singh Lamarche LLP. She is recognized for providing her clients with practical and tailored solutions to employment issues.   

In addition to her work as an employment lawyer, Hena has conducted hundreds of workplace investigations for companies and organizations of all types and sizes. She is a mediator, Certified Workplace Investigator and a Certified Compliance Officer. She also holds a master’s degree in Psychology.   

Hena is the author of the book A Practical Guide to Conducting Workplace Investigations and co-author of the book A Practical Guide to the Law of Terminations in Ontario. Given her credentials and extensive experience, she regularly appears in the media and is a frequent presenter on various employment law, human rights, mediation and workplace investigation issues.  

Sari Springer

Managing Director, Pemberton Lane

Sari has been practicing law for 35 years, beginning her career at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, where she developed a hybrid practice focused on management-side employment law and representing university clients in matters before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), as well as internal academic appeals. Over time, her work evolved to include acting as lead counsel in complex systemic discrimination cases before the HRTO on behalf of consortia of universities.

After 25 years at Cassels, Sari became the Managing Partner of the Canadian office of Littler Mendelson P.C., the world’s largest employment and labour law firm. In this role, she significantly expanded her practice to include numerous high-stakes and sensitive workplace investigations across both the university and private sectors.

In May 2023, after eight years at Littler, Sari launched her own firm to focus primarily on conducting complex and nuanced investigations across a wide range of sectors. The matters she has investigated span a broad spectrum, including—but not limited to sexual violence, harassment, theft, fraud, bullying, property damage, inappropriate sexual conduct, stalking, grooming, discrimination, intimidation, nepotism, favoritism, unprofessionalism, racial stereotyping, career sabotage, body shaming, non-consensual touching, dual employment, conflicts of interest, indoctrination, falsification of records, improper relationships, malicious gossip, impersonation, preferential treatment, and covert surveillance.

In addition to her investigative work, Sari has conducted numerous Climate Assessments to gauge the culture and dynamics within organizations or specific departments and to provide tailored, actionable recommendations that foster a healthier and more respectful workplace environment.

Alex Treiber

Founder & Principal Lawyer, Treiber Law Professional Corporation

Alex Treiber is the founder of Treiber Law PC where he practices in all areas of labour, employment, human rights and workplace law, representing both workers and businesses.

Prior to starting Treiber Law, Alex was an exclusively management-side labour and employment lawyer at McCarthy Tetrault LLP in Toronto and a general commercial litigation lawyer at Sullivan and Cromwell LLP in New York City.

Alex is also a Sessional Instructor at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law teaching a course on Labour Arbitration to the next generation of labour and employment lawyers.

Madelena Viksne

Senior Associate, Singh Lamarche LLP

Madelena Viksne is a Senior Associate at Singh Lamarche LLP, specializing in all areas of employment law, including wrongful dismissals, human rights issues, harassment, employment contracts, and workplace advice. With extensive litigation experience acting on behalf of both employees and employers, Madelena has successfully represented clients in jurisdictions across Canada, including in Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador. In doing so, Madelena’s fierce advocacy as led to favourable outcomes for her clients involving regulatory bodies, statutory boards and tribunals and courts including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Her approach to resolution and litigation is pragmatic, and her hard-fast dedication to protecting human rights, as well as her ability to foster strong, trusting relationships are core to her representation of clients on both sides of the table.  

Sarah Vokey

Investigator and Employment Lawyer, Sarah Vokey Law

Sarah Vokey is an Investigator, Employment Lawyer, and the Founder of Sarah Vokey Law. After articling at a large Bay Street firm, Sarah began her career at a boutique employment law and investigations firm and spent 15 years practicing as an employment lawyer and investigator as a Co-Founder and Partner of a Toronto employment law and investigation firm.  

The vast majority of Sarah’s practice is focused on independent workplace investigations. She is a certified workplace investigator and holds a certification (AWI-CH) from the Association of Workplace Investigators. Sarah is also a current member of the Association of Workplace Investigators and a member of the Canadian chapter of the organization. In addition to conducting workplace investigations, Sarah advises and represents employee and employer clients in all aspects of workplace law and disputes.  

Sarah obtained her undergraduate honours degree in Psychology from Queen’s University, studied law at the University of Windsor and was called to the Bar in 2009.