JusticeNet Patron Council

The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, P.C., C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
26th Governor General of Canada

The Honourable Peter deCarteret Cory, C.C., C.D., Q.C.
Former Canadian Supreme Court Justice and distinguished international jurist

The Honourable Irwin Cotler, P.C., O.C., MP
Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Canada

Prof. William F. Flanagan
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Queen’s University, President of the Council of Canadian Law Deans

The Honourable Frank Iacobucci, C.C., Q.C., LL.D.
Former Chief Justice of the Federal Court and Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada

Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
27th Governor General of Canada

The Honourable Patrick LeSage, CM, O.Ont, Q.C.
Former Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court

The Right Honourable Paul Martin, P.C.
The 21st Prime Minister of Canada

The Honourable R. Roy McMurtry, O.C., O.Ont, Q.C.
Former Attorney General and Chief Justice of Ontario, current Chancellor of York University

W. A. Derry Millar
Former Treasurer (President) of the Law Society of Upper Canada

Prof. Lorne Sossin
Legal scholar and Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

JusticeNet Advisory Board

Frank Addario
Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association

Dr. Payam Akhavan
Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University

Andrew C. Alleyne
Past President of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL)

Aarondeep Bains
President of the South Asian Bar Association (SABA)

Maia Bent
President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA)

Christa Big Canoe
President of the Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto

Hon. Donald Cameron, Q.C.
Justice of the superior court of Ontario

Scott Clark
Professor at Ryerson University

Mary Damianakis
President of Family Mediation Canada

Michael Doi
President of the Association of Chinese Canadian Lawyers of Ontario

Nadia Effendi
President of the Association of French Speaking Jurists of Ontario (AJEFO)

Laura Fryer
President of the Ontario Collaborative Law Federation

Nikki Gershbain
National Director, Pro Bono Students Canada

Kathryn Hendrikx
President of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario

Lai-King Hum
President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL)

Katharina Janczaruk
President of the Family Lawyers Association

Dr. Barbara Landau
President of Cooperative Solutions

Jeffrey S. Leon
President of Pro Bono Law Ontario

David McKillop
Vice President, Policy and Research Legal Aid Ontario

Barbara Merriam
Director General, Programs Branch, Department of Justice

Lida Moazzam
President of the Iranian Canadian Lawyers Association

Jim Musgrave, Q.C.
President of the ADR Institute of Canada

Angela Nikolakakos
President of the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association

Arman Pakravan
Representing the voice of Canada’s Youth

Chris Paliare
President of the Macedonian Canadian Lawyers Association

John J. S. Park
President of the Korean Canadian Lawyers Association

Stephen Parker
President of the Paralegal Society of Ontario

Chaves Paz
President of the Hispanic Ontario Lawyers Association (HOLA)

Vince A. Pileggi
President of the Canadian Italian Advocates Organization

Mary-Anne Popescu
Executive Director of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation

Quinn Ross
President of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA)

Donna Walwyn
President of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL)

Graham Webb
Executive Director of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

Janet Whitehead
Chair of the County & District Law Presidents’ Association (CDLPA)

Miriam Young
President, Toronto Lawyers Association

Prof. Feredrick H. Zemans
Senior Scholar & Professor Emeritus Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

JusticeNet Senior Advisors

Lee Akazaki
Partner – Gilbertson Davis LLP

Edwin Upenieks
Litigation Group Chair at Lawrence, Lawrence, Stevenson, LLP

JusticeNet Board of Directors

Secretary

Fran Burke

Fran Burke has worked as a high school guidance counsellor for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) for eighteen of her twenty-four-year teaching career. She received her Bachelor of Education Degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and her Master’s in Education Degree from Brock University in St. Catherine’s, Ontario where she focused on anti-bullying. With a background in Life Skills, she has taught conflict-resolution and peer-mediation. Fran has also practiced Solution-Focused Counselling, is a published author and a passionate advocate of greater access to justice.

Mary Damianakis MS C.F.Med IMI Acc. Med

Mary Damianakis is a certified mediator, accredited family mediator, and trainer. She resides in Quebec, trains in different areas of dispute resolution, family mediation and, has extensive experience working with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and mediation. Mary supervises, and trains on areas such international family mediation, dispute resolution and- including, cross cultural dialogue, trauma and, violence screening. Mary continues to work with diverse and, ethnic communities across Canada and, including Aboriginal communities. Mary, also started the International Mediation Institute’s family section which is at the embryonic stages. Mary is the past president of Family Mediation Canada.

1st Vice President

Dr. Fariborz Davoudi, Ph.D., LL.B., LL.M.

Fariborz Davoudi studied law at Osgoode Hall Law School, receiving his LL.B., LL.M. and Ph.D. from this institution. He has practiced as a criminal lawyer since being called to the Ontario Bar in 1999. Dr. Davoudi is a trial lawyer, having handled a number of high profile cases involving serious criminal charges. He has intimate experience with clients of low and medium income who have struggled through Canada’s justice system.

President

Nataly Kashani

Nataly Kashani has several years of experience working with development and advocacy agencies such as, Lawyers for Human Rights, and Peace Boat. She served as Director of Services and United Nations Representative for Worldcit Education and Development Agency. Nataly has worked closely with several boards to develop and implement policies, programs and strategic directions. As well, she has advised on fundraising and capital building initiatives for both small and large charitable organizations. She has a keen interest in creating accessibility to justice in Canada.

Nataly studied law at City University, London, U.K., and Alternative Dispute Resolution at Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies, York University. She now works in the private sector.

Past President

Sammy Kien Chong Lee, LL.B, M.Soc Sci

Mr. Sammy Lee obtained his LL.B. degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1976. He received further training in the United Kingdom and became a lawyer in Hong Kong and in England in 1977. He obtained his Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Hong Kong in 1981. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1992.

Mr. Lee is Managing Partner of Metcalfe, Blainey & Burns LLP, where he oversees real estate law, trust law, off-shore trust, business law, corporate law, family law, immigration law and civil litigation.

Mr. Lee is fluent in Chinese and English. He is an outstanding member of Canada’s Chinese Community, having extensively served the Community over many years in various capacities, including as member of the board or as honorary legal advisor to numerous organizations and associations.

Mr. Lee is currently sitting on the Advisory Board of Chinese Christian Mission. He is an honorary member of the Board of Governors of North York General Hospital, a board member of the Varley Art Gallery Foundation of the City of Markham and Secretary of the Board of the worldwide SOBEM TV Ministry in Canada.

Treasurer

Ajith Thiyagalingam

Ajith Thiyagalingam is Legal Counsel at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Ajith has experience in immigration, administrative, national security, employment, compliance and regulatory, privacy, and human rights and international law. Ajith studied at Oxford University and INSEAD Business School and obtained his Doctor of Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, where he was President of the South Asian Law Students’ Association. Ajith is an advocate for diversity, inclusion, access to justice, and equality both within the legal profession and in society at large.

Executive Director

Heidi Mottahedin, C.Med,. Acc F.M., C.S.F.T., IMI

Heidi Mottahedin is a Professional Mediator. Heidi did her undergraduate studies in International Business Management and Sociology. She received her mediation training from York University and Harvard Law School and has received extensive training in the Solution Focused field from leading North Americans universities. She has applied her management skills in various capacities. Heidi is certified by the International Mediation Institute, and is a lifetime member of FMC and an accredited member of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation. She has been active in various not-for-profit and charitable organizations, having served on different boards and committees. Heidi is the recipient of the University of Toronto’s 2011 Jason Kelly Leadership Award for Excellence in Solution-Focused Counselling. She has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her efforts in making justice more accessible to all Canadians.