About

About

As a publicly funded, non-profit organization, we provide affordable legal services in family law, domestic violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defence.

Vision

An Alberta where everyone is able to understand and protect their legal rights.

Mission

We resolve legal problems for disadvantaged Albertans and, in doing so, protect the Rule of Law for the benefit of everyone.

Governance

As a registered society incorporated under the provincial Societies Act, Legal Aid Alberta is an organization independent from government, but is accountable to the Minister of Justice and to the Law Society of Alberta.

Governance Agreement 2024-2029

Values

Our organization strives to always focus on what matters, to stay true to our values in everything we do. These values are the underpinning of our organization, reflecting on what is truly important to us and guide us in the decisions we make every day.

We Are One

We work together in a collaborative and supportive manner to deliver unwavering and innovative services to our clients as one unified organization.

We Are Protectors

We serve Albertans, often the most vulnerable of us, and work tirelessly to protect their rights and to ensure a fair process.

We Are Exceptional

We are experts at what we do and we continually strive for improvement.

We Are Independent

We operate and provide legal counsel free from outside involvement.

MORE REPORTS AND POLICIES

LAA Overview

Strategic Plan 2023-26

Annual Report 2023-24

Rules and Policies

Executive Team

Our executive team is responsible for strategic and business planning and ensuring that LAA delivers crucial legal services to Albertans while operating within the Governance Agreement. They – along with all of LAA’s dedicated team members – strive to achieve our vision of an Alberta where everyone is able to understand and protect their legal rights.

Legal Aid Alberta CEO and President John Panusa sitting in a red chair smiling at the camera

Gianpaolo (John) Panusa, KC

President and Chief Executive Officer

Reporting to the board of directors, John is responsible for the executive planning and coordination of the organization. He also represents the organization in dealing with Alberta Justice, the Law Society of Alberta, the federal government, other legal aid plans in Canada, the legal community, and the public.

Lori Haughian

Vice President, Justice Services

 

Lori leads, directs, and oversees all client services functions. This includes client intake and assessment, appointing, client payments, and certificate and tariff administration. Lori also guides and oversees the day-to-day operations of the staff law offices and the corporate law and case management group.

Laurie Wang

Vice President, People, Culture and Communications

Laurie oversees the Communications, Culture and Human Resources functions at Legal Aid Alberta, including board governance and policy development. She is responsible for the leadership, strategy of LAA values, culture and brand — telling the LAA story, recruiting and retaining the best talent, and engaging teams and the community.

Dale Burgess

Executive Director, Finance

Dale oversees the financial accountability, reporting, and business analysis that supports Legal Aid Alberta’s day-to-day operations as well as our many innovative initiatives. LAA’s finance, business solutions and reporting, and procurement and facilities teams report to Dale, who will set direction and oversee these important areas.

Johnathan McFarlane

Executive Director, Information Technology

Johnathan leads the strategic partnership between IT and operations at Legal Aid Alberta (LAA), overseeing the organization’s technology infrastructure, systems improvement, and digital transformation initiatives. He focuses on fostering collaboration across departments to enhance service delivery and improve access to justice for Albertans, and ensures that LAA’s technology solutions effectively support both daily operations and innovative projects.  

Man in suit sitting in office

Greg Lazin

Fractional General Counsel

Greg leads the legal advisory team at Legal Aid Alberta, providing strategic legal advice to support decision-making across the organization. He offers guidance on legal issues affecting Legal Aid Alberta and its clients, and assists in mitigating legal, regulatory, and commercial risks.

Board of Directors

Legal Aid Alberta is governed and guided by a carefully chosen board of directors. The board makes decisions that are carried out by our executive and management teams.

The Board can consist of up to 11 members – with at least four members of the Law Society and three public directors.

Ryan Callioux, KC

Chair

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2016

Membership Status: Chair

Called to the Alberta bar in 2002, Ryan is an Edmonton-area Indigenous lawyer who has dedicated his professional legal career to helping families and children. Having practised family law for the past 20 years, he is an experienced litigator on family and child welfare cases and has advised government on risk management initiatives to reduce domestic violence and enhance legal services to protect children.

Callioux Family Law and Mediation

Catherine Brauer

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2021

Membership Status: Board Member

Catherine is a CPA, CA whose career has focused on finance, technology and corporate governance consulting for a variety of organizations including publicly funded health care, education, children’s aid and legal aid entities. She currently leads the Global Financial Reporting Transformation Team for Finning International.

Jim Campbell

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2022

Membership Status: Board Member

Jim is an MBA whose career has focused on external affairs. He is a senior business executive with more than 25 years of government, Indigenous and public affairs experience in diverse industries, including forestry, mining, telecommunications, and oil and gas. Jim also served as the executive director of one of Alberta’s political parties. Jim’s volunteer experience includes service on the boards of Mount Royal University, the Edmonton and Calgary public libraries and the Edmonton Art Gallery. Jim completed his Commerce degree at the University of Alberta and earned his MBA from the University of Calgary.

Owen Edmondson

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2017

Membership Status: Board Member

Retired after a 32-year career in finance and utility regulation, Owen serves on the boards of directors of a number of not-for-profit organizations. Currently Owen is the interim chair of the Safety Codes Council, chair of the Handling Commission Review Committee of the Beverage Container Management Board, finance committee member of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and a director of L’Arche Edmonton. Owen has a B.Sc. and an MBA from the University of Alberta and is a CPA, CGA.

David Linder, KC

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2022

Membership Status: Board Member

David recently retired from the Alberta Securities Commission after having served over 25 years as its executive director. During his tenure at the Commission, David also was heavily involved in the executive committees of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the umbrella organization of Canada’s provincial and territorial securities regulators whose objective is to improve, coordinate and harmonize regulation of the Canadian capital markets.

Prior to joining the Commission, David was a partner with the law firm of Parlee McLaws in Calgary. David has taught Business Law at the University of Calgary, and chaired the fundraising committee of the U of C’s Faculty of Law Alumni in its initial campaign.

Randy Mitchell

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2022

Membership Status: Board Member

Randy is a Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution group at McLeod Law LLP. Randy practices in a wide variety of areas in all levels of courts of Alberta, including employment disputes, shareholder disputes and urban and rural lease and property disputes. Randy also participates in a variety of pro bono and access to justice initiatives in Alberta.

Brad Pickering

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2021

Membership Status: Board Member

Brad is a retired Government of Alberta Deputy Minister, having served 17 years in various senior leadership roles as Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs, Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Agency, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Deputy Solicitor General/Deputy Minister Public Security, and Deputy Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Prior to joining the Government of Alberta Brad spent 20 years in the municipal government sector.

Hilary Rose

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2016

Membership Status: Board Member

Hilary chairs the audit committee of Legal Aid Alberta. She is a CPA, CA with broad experience in government, industry and academia. She has served on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations including Legal Aid Alberta, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Alberta Insurance Council. She is a governor of the International Development Research Centre (a federal Crown corporation) and a trustee of the National Film Board of Canada. Hilary is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. She holds a BA in economics and political science and certifications in internal audit, risk management and client server computing systems.

Sonya von Heyking

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2022

Membership Status: Board Member

Sonya brings 20 years of organizational governance experience from a variety of senior internal, and external board table perspectives. She is the Assistant Dean, Strategic Initiatives with the University of Lethbridge’s Dhillon School of Business and teaches in the accounting program. Sonya is also a board director at CPA Alberta, and Treasurer and Chair, Finance & Audit Committee at CanadaHelps. Sonya holds the CPA, CA, ICD.D, and CIA designations, as well as certifications in risk management and internal controls from the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Amber-Dawn Boudreau

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2023

Membership Status: Board Member

Amber-Dawn is an accomplished engagement and commercial lending executive who leads with integrity, inclusivity and a demonstrated history of fostering relationships with Indigenous communities, industry stakeholders, and government.

Amber is a Director of Indigenous Relations at Hydro One responsible for Lifecycle Engagement, the Indigenous Relations program and the Indigenous Relations strategy.

Before joining Hydro One, Amber held the positions of Vice President, Engagement at the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, Interim Team Lead and Senior Manager for CIBC’s Commercial Banking Indigenous Markets Team.

She is a proud member of the Red Rock Indian Band in Northwestern Ontario and currently lives in Calgary, Alberta with her husband and three children.

Daniela O'Callaghan

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2023

Membership Status: Board Member

Called to the Alberta bar in 2011, Daniela is an Edmonton-area lawyer and a Senior Managing Counsel at EPCOR Utilities Inc., where she is the Compliance Officer, Privacy Officer and advises a number of businesses within the EPCOR group of companies in Canada.

Daniela’s volunteer experience includes service as the Chair of the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission and currently as a board member of the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers.

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