Jeff Surtees
Jeff grew up on the Canadian prairies, attaining his Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and later a Masters in Law from the University of Calgary. Jeff has been an active member of the Law Society of Alberta since 1991, practicing as a civil litigation lawyer for fifteen years.
Read moreMichelle Thompson
Michelle worked in public legal education for almost 10 years before joining the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB) as its Executive Director in 2022. PLEIS-NB is the only sole-purpose PLE organization in New Brunswick, answering over 3000 legal questions from the public each year, distributing an average of 40,000 copies of print resources,
Read moreKristy Pagnutti
Kristy Pagnutti is the executive director of the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN). She is responsible for strategic direction and oversight of day-to-day operations at OJEN. Before being appointed as ED, she served as director of OJEN’s Capacity Building and Engagement and has worked in all 3 of OJEN’s departments. Kristy holds a B.A.
Read moreJoel Gordon Janow
Joel Janow, BA, LLB, is the executive director of the Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan (PLEA), which was established in 1980 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. PLEA creates resources to help people understand the law in their lives. PLEA’s mandate is “to educate, inform, and empower through law-related education.” PLEA’s positioning statement is L.I.F.E.
Read moreEllen Mullally
Ellen Mullally is the Executive Director of Community Legal Information (CLI) on Prince Edward Island. CLI is a registered charity that helps PEI residents understand the law and navigate the justice system.
Read moreThomas Wallwork
Thomas E. Wallwork is a seasoned legal professional with extensive experience in civil law matters, family law, and child protection. Holding a J.D. from Dalhousie University and a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of British Columbia, Thomas has been a dedicated member of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories since 2018 and the Law Society of British Columbia from 2012 to 2018.
Read moreAndrea Bailey
Andrea is Executive Director and Lawyer with the Yukon Public Legal Education Association. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto law school. Prior to taking the position at YPLEA, Andrea was counsel to the Yukon Supreme and Territorial Courts and with the Government of Yukon. Andrea has been a Board member for numerous Yukon non-profit societies,
Read moreJoanne Smith
Joanne Smith, LL.B., LL.M., is a staff family lawyer at the Legal Services Board of Nunavut (“LSB”). The LSB delivers the territorial legal aid plan for Nunavummiut in criminal, family, and civil practice areas. The LSB provides services in the territory’s four official languages to ensure that all members of our communities have equal access to services.
Read moreJessica Reekie
Jessica Reekie is the president of the Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC) and the Executive Director of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO). CLEO is a non-profit organization that develops clear, accurate, and practical legal rights education and information to help people understand the law and exercise their legal rights.
Read moreKevin O’Shea
Kevin O’Shea has been the Executive Director of the Public Legal Information Association of NL (PLIAN) since 2014. PLIAN is the only organization in Newfoundland and Labrador solely dedicated to public legal education and information work. Operating since 1984, PLIAN provides legal information and education services to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador with the goal of increasing access to justice.
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