Staff

Aubrey (she/her) is the Public Legal Education Manager at LEAF. In her role, she provides training and workshop delivery, as well as PLE design, in support of LEAF’s programming. Aubrey brings her experience delivering and designing PLE workshops and materials on Charter and constitutional issues for the Centre for Constitutional Studies in Alberta and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in Ontario. She also provided direct legal services and PLE to youth while articling at Justice for Children and Youth and Peacebuilders in Toronto. She holds a JD from Dickinson School of Law, Penn State University and an LLM (thesis) from the Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia. She was called to the Ontario bar in June 2020.  

She was born and raised in Toronto and hangs out with her two TikTok micro-influencer cats. Otherwise, she is looking for live music or karaoke night.  

Brea is the Director of Operations at LEAF. In her role, she is responsible for implementing the 2020-2025 strategic plan and ensuring the smooth functioning of LEAF’s operations. Prior to LEAF, Brea was the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston. In that role, she was responsible for both the operational and programmatic components of the Centre. She believes a world free of sexual and gender-based violence is entirely possible. In her spare time, she can be found hiking or canoeing in the backcountry or crafting some absurd new cooking creation.

Cee contributes to the development and management of LEAF’s cases. They also conduct legal and other research in support of LEAF’s work on litigation, law reform, and public legal education. Cee articled with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), following which they managed a CCLA consultation project to hear from youth and educators about their civil liberties concerns. Cee has worked as an associate at a criminal defence firm in Toronto; as a legal assistant at a civil litigation firm in Montréal; and as a law clerk for Justice Sheilah L. Martin at the Supreme Court of Canada. They received their B.C.L./L.L.B. from McGill University in 2016, graduating with the Elizabeth Torrance Gold Medal. They also hold an M.A. in Communication Studies from McGill. Cee was called to the Ontario Bar in 2017 and the Barreau du Québec in 2020. Throughout their st­udies and working life, Cee has volunteered with the Prisoner Correspondence Project, a queer and trans prisoner penpal program. Cee loves all things queer, nerdy, and Jewish – see if you can spot them biking around town on their way to a show, a D&D game, or Shabbat dinner.

Chance Kawar (he/him) is the Office and Branch Relations Coordinator at LEAF, where he supports organizational operations including volunteer branches across the country. He brings six years of experience working in the nonprofit sector with a focus on financial administration, human resources, board governance, office management, and more. He has most recently held positions at organizations in the United States including Greenbelt Alliance and the Los Angeles Parks Foundation.

A graduate of Pitzer College, Chance holds a bachelor's degree in Political Studies along with a minor in Spanish. In his free time, he enjoys travelling, hiking, and cooking. He was born and raised in San Diego, CA, and currently resides in Toronto, ON along with his boyfriend and their scruffy rescue dog, Smokey. 

Jen (she/they) is the Communications and Advocacy Manager at LEAF. In her role, she leads LEAF’s communications efforts, including digital and traditional media. Jen brings a solid track record of advocating for social justice through accessible communications and critical policy analysis. Prior to LEAF, they worked at YWCA Canada, York University, Foundation for Media Alternatives (Philippines), and Campaign2000. She is also a proud trade unionist and long-time advocate for workers' rights. Jen holds a Joint Honours degree in Political Science and International Development from McGill University. Outside of paid work, you’ll find them reading sci-fi/ fantasy novels, trying new sports, or cooking meals for their loved ones.

Kat is the project director for LEAF’s Strengthening Community Capacity Project, which helps gender-based organizations get involved in strategic litigation. She also contributes to the development and management of LEAF’s cases and law reform submissions. Prior to joining LEAF, Kat worked as a staff lawyer at the Long-Term Care Homes Public Inquiry, and as an Assistant Crown Attorney at College Park. She holds law degrees from the University of Toronto and New York University. Outside of work, you will find Kat passionately cheering on Liverpool F.C., playing Ultimate Frisbee, or listening to whatever her current podcast obsession happens to be.

Nicole Jowett (she/her) is from Winnipeg, Treaty 1, and has a background in migrant justice work. This includes direct supports for migrant youth and families as well as research and service coordination, previously working as the Provincial Coordinator for the Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations. To further her knowledge and skills, Nicole went into law at McGill University, where she completed a BCL/JD in 2024. During this time, she volunteered at legal clinics for housing and migrant rights and worked as a legal researcher focused on human rights and equality law. Seeing the legal barriers faced by marginalized community members, Nicole is committed to furthering intersectional equality through public interest law, and is looking forward to pursuing this work at LEAF.

The Public Interest Articling Fellowship was made possible through the support of The Law Foundation of Ontario.

Pam Hrick is the Executive Director & General Counsel at LEAF. She leads and manages LEAF’s legal activities and daily operations, and works with the Board to develop the vision and strategic plan for the organization. She provides leadership, expertise, support, and direction to LEAF’s work on litigation, law reform, and public education

Pam joined LEAF from Stockwoods LLP, where she practiced law for several years. She previously clerked for the Hon. Justice Thomas A. Cromwell at the Supreme Court of Canada and the Hon. Justice David Stratas at the Federal Court of Appeal.  Before commencing her legal career, Pam also served as the Legislative Advisor and Issues Manager to the Attorney General of Ontario.

Pam has been an active volunteer in the legal community and broader community, including serving as the Chair of the Board of Management of The 519, a city organization that advocates for the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

Pam received her undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa, her JD from Queen’s University, and her LLM from New York University. She has been recognized as a 2022 Lexpert Rising Star (Leading Lawyers Under 40) by Lexpert Magazine and a Leader to Be Proud Of by Start Proud.

Born and raised in London, Ontario, Pam currently lives in Toronto with her wife Kristyn and their young child.

Rosel Kim is a Senior Staff Lawyer at LEAF. In her role, Rosel contributes to the development and management of LEAF’s cases and drafts LEAF’s law reform submissions. She recently acted as co-counsel for LEAF in Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform et al v. Canada (Attorney General), a case challenging the constitutionality of sex work provisions in the Criminal Code. Rosel led LEAF’s process to develop a position on sex work, a first for the organization, and co-wrote LEAF’s position paper on this topic.

Rosel currently leads LEAF’s Technology-Facilitated Violence Project, which explores equality-centred legal responses to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). She is regularly invited to speak on issues linked to technology and gender-based violence to government committees, members of the media, and the broader legal community.

Outside of LEAF, Rosel serves on the Board of Directors of the Korean Legal Clinic, which aims to improve access to justice for Korean Canadians by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate legal services, education, and resources.

Her writing about justice issues, race, and gender have been published in the Toronto Star, The Ex-Puritan, GUTS Magazine, among others.

Rosel was recently named the 2023 Young Lawyer of the Year by the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers.

Sahar is the Development Officer at LEAF. She works to build and sustain relationships with donors and funding partners who make it possible for LEAF to advance feminist law and gender equality in Canada. She has had the immense privilege of working as a fundraiser for education and social justice-driven organizations, including Indigenous Youth Roots (formerly known as CRE), SKETCH Working Arts, and The Walrus. Sahar has worked as a facilitator and instructor in community and academic spaces, including with Canada World Youth, the Toronto Public Library, the University of Toronto, and the University of Guelph. She is the author of the picture book So Loud! (Annick Press, 2024) and the director of the short documentary KAR (2019).

Sharon is the Senior Development Officer at LEAF and she helps lead and grow the organization’s ambitious fund development program.  Sharon brings over 15 years of experience in program development, management, research, strategic planning and community development.  She has significant funding experience, and prior to joining LEAF she served as the Manager, Research Services at the University of Toronto Scarborough.  She also held positions at Toronto Metropolitan University, Pathy Family Foundation, Social Sciences ad Humanities Research Council, the Child Welfare League of Canada and CARE Canada.  She has a Master’s degree in International Development from the University of Manchester and is passionate about social justice.  In her free time, Sharon loves to travel, play records and explore vintage stores.

Celia Zhang (she/her) is the Project Coordinator at LEAF. Celia is an intersectional feminist and comes to LEAF with broad experience working and volunteering for feminist organizations including Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Choice in Health Clinic, and the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre.