Statement

• Bencher since 2013
• BD&P Partner, Corporate Commercial, 1981- 2013 and Of Counsel since 2013
• University of Alberta, Bachelor of Laws, 1975

Bencher Activities and Engagement

• Former Chair of: Audit Committee, Governance Committee and Innovation Regulation Task Force
• Current Chair of: Corporate & Commercial Advisory Liaison Committee (2014 to present)
• Vice-Chair of: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
• Former Vice-Chair of: Policy Committee, Governance Committee, Legislation Review Task Force, Professional Responsibility Committee and Audit Committee
• Other Committee Memberships: Executive Committee 2017 to present, Innovating Regulation Task Force 2016 to present, Conduct Committee 2013 to present, Practice Review and Appeal Committees 2014 to present, and Trust Safety Committee

Law Society Representative Appointments

• Member of the Provincial Court Nominating Committee 2016 to present

Professional Education

• Instructor with CPLED – Professional Responsibility 2016-2020

Community Involvement

• Vertigo Theatre, Board Chair 2006-2010; Board Member 2004 – 2012
• The Doorway, a youth employment agency, Board member 2004-2009
• Springbank Community Planning Association, Board member 2001-2009, Vice Chair, 2005-2009

Bencher Areas of Interest

My commercial and charitable experience has enabled me to advocate for, and help implement, modernization of the governance practices of the LSA, structuring our board as a strategic and policy board, and the devolution of some Bencher tasks to volunteer members of our profession. Currently, as Vice-Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, we have been working to advance these initiatives as part of our Strategic Plan. My work with the Innovating Regulation Task Force has sensitized me to the rapid pace of change in our profession and the many challenges the profession is experiencing from both inside and outside the profession.

As a member of our Executive Committee for the past three years, and particularly since the pandemic, I have seen the very real sustainability of practice issues we face. However I also see the unique opportunities we have to initiate transformative change at this time in terms of how we reimagine articling, the maintenance of competence in the profession and how legal services can be delivered in different and innovative ways. Our recently completed long term Strategic Plan provides the framework for much needed reforms to maintain the profile of the LSA as a leading edge regulator in Canada.

We have a special and privileged position through our ability to regulate our own profession and an attendant responsibility to act in the public interest. The Law Society, in its capacity as a regulator, must be continuously sensitive to that public interest so that this privilege is not compromised or eliminated in the future. I consider it a great honour to have served the profession as a Bencher in the past and would be most appreciative of the opportunity to press ahead as a Bencher with the important and strategic initiatives the Law Society has proposed to support and enhance the practice of law in Alberta.