OUR TEAM
Rise is run by a team of dedicated staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers who share in Rise’s vision of a more safe, just, and equal legal system.
Staff members
Leadership Team
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Vicky obtained her Juris Doctor (Honours) from the University of Saskatchewan and has built a legal career in BC where she passionately advocates for gender equality. Vicky has extensive experience in the fields of immigration law and family law for women experiencing intimate partner violence. In her career as a legal advocate and a lawyer, she has supported many women and families in navigating their immigration status in Canada, and the complexities of the family law system.
Vicky joined Rise Women’s Legal Centre in 2017 as supervising lawyer of what has now become Rise’s Virtual Legal Clinic (VLC). Vicky spearheaded the Remote Services Project, exploring innovative ways to provide virtual services to women and gender diverse people located in rural and remote communities across BC. In 2024, Vicky became Rise’s second Executive Director, where she leads a team of 37 dedicated professionals, providing legal assistance to over 2,000 women and gender diverse people in BC a year. She has developed and delivered extensive trainings for lawyers and support workers across the province on how to work with clients who have experienced violence. She continues to contribute to systemic legal reform through policy development and test case litigation, and has provided guidance, mentorship, and support to the next generation of lawyers through Rise’s student legal clinic, articling students, and incubator lawyer programs. A passionate advocate, Vicky’s collaborative approach, her client centered perspective, and her dedication to access to justice drives her ongoing work.
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Vandana has focused her legal career on working to achieve gender equality. This led her to Rise where she has been happily working since our doors opened in spring of 2016. Prior to joining Rise, Vandana was a sole practitioner in the areas of family law, child protection, and immigration & refugee law, with a focus on the issue of family violence. Vandana also worked at an aboriginal law firm, articled in criminal law with Glen Orris. K.C., and worked as a Mental Health Advocate for Community Legal Assistance Society [CLAS] during law school. Vandana has a J.D. from the University of British Columbia, and an M.Sc. from the University of Calgary. She is a strong believer in the power of community and is excited about the potential of Rise to help unite communities working to achieve gender equality. In her spare time, Vandana can be found spending time with dear friends and family, trying to start her own food revolution in her backyard, doing yoga, or escaping to the Sunshine Coast.
Administration Team
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Ellie has over 25 years of administrative and office management experience in a broad range of sectors including corporate special events, television production, law, and consulting. She thrives in a role that enables her to support business teams and their clients, and is passionate about Rise’s work to improve access to justice in BC.
Ellie is also a visual artist, has been painting for over a decade and graduated from Langara’s full time Professional Photography program in 2010. Since then, she has been photographing events, portraits, worldwide travel, and doing project work in her personal time.
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Sarah joined Rise in 2023. New to British Columbia, she is excited and honoured to work and live on the unceded, ancestral and traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Her background is in sociology and global studies, with a Masters in Sociology that focused on gender and sexuality. Sarah has spent much of her time in university volunteering and organizing with LGBTQ+ and women’s groups and is passionate about supporting women, workers, gender diverse people, and other marginalized groups. As Office Coordinator, Sarah helps out with Rise’s Student Clinic and works with the admin team to offer support to others in the office. She’s thrilled to be able to work with others who align so closely to her values.
In her free time, Sarah loves to read, talk about books, write, run, and spend time outdoors.
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Dennis is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in non-profit administration and financial management, advocating for social change and justice. He co-founded three charities focused on serving homeless individuals and refugees. He supports International Justice Mission (IJM) Canada in protecting vulnerable populations globally.
Leveraging more than a decade of experience in justice and public administration, Dennis offers a wealth of expertise in business leadership and innovative service strategies. He holds certifications as a management accountant and a business analysis professional, in addition to an MBA. As one of the founding members of Legal Aid BC's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council, he passionately champions inclusivity and equity. Dennis is unwavering in his dedication to driving positive transformations within communities and providing support to individuals facing adversity.
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Bailey is the Financial and Administrative Coordinator at Rise, where she provides accounting and administrative support from her years of office experience, previously in corporate settings.
Being born and raised in the prairies of Treaty 4 Territory - the lands of the Cree, Saulteaux , Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, and the homeland of the Métis Nation - she feels honored to have the opportunity to work and live in the beautifully mountainous unceded, ancestral and traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
In the changing world, Bailey gained an interest in working at Rise, where her passion for justice and women & gender diverse rights meets her ability to support coworkers who are making strides for progressive change in the BC legal system.
Bailey believes that access to justice means to treat people equitably and break down the systematic barriers that prevent that.
Bailey spent the last several years advocating and supporting mental health & 2SLGBTQ+ initiatives, as well as working towards Indigenous reconciliation through education and conversation.
In her spare time, Bailey loves to learn languages and play games.
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Abigail joined Rise in 2026, with a background in Political Studies and over 10 years of experience in administrative support and event management. She is passionate about supporting executives, teams, and clients through initiatives that enhance client experience, streamline processes, and promote inclusive service delivery.
New to British Columbia, Abigail is grateful to live and work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Joining Rise was a meaningful decision for her, as she values being part of a team that prioritizes equity, compassion, and access to justice.
To Abigail, access to justice means removing barriers that prevent people from being heard. It is about creating equitable pathways to support, dignity, and fair outcomes.
In her free time, Abigail enjoys working with flowers, getting lost in a good book, spending time with loved ones, and exploring the city.
Fund Development and Communications
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Born in England, Kate moved to Canada in 2013 to attend the University of British Columbia and has been here ever since! Kate feels privileged to live and work on the unceded homelands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Kate is passionate about creating a more equitable world and building strong, resilient communities. She feels fortunate to help make things happen through fundraising. She also feels honoured to work at an organization that does so much good for women and gender diverse people across British Columbia. When she’s not at work you can find Kate walking her dog Rory, writing short stories, and enjoying this beautiful province.
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Melanie is passionate about advancing gender equity through their work in the non-profit sector. With foundation in Political Science (Hons), and Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice from the University of British Columbia, they have worked for not-for-profit organizations in Kenya (their home), South Africa, the US, and Canada.
They are now grateful to live and work on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Melanie believes in the power of strategic fundraising and efficient systems, and hopes to create sustainable impact for women and gender-diverse individuals across BC at Rise. As Fund Development Coordinator, they help manage donor relationships, database systems, grant writing, and various communications initiatives. When they aren’t working on fundraising initiatives or fine-tuning a database, you can find Melanie covered in clay at the pottery studio, or going out to support local live music and art.
Community Legal Clinic
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Lily Hsueh is a Family Law Advocate who helps clients facing multiple barriers. Originally from Taiwan, Lily has degrees in Comparative Literature and Social Service. She has extensive experience working with clients who have FASDs and survivors of domestic violence.
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Carmine comes to Rise with a background of community-based non-profit work where she has supported youth, children with special needs, seniors, newcomers, and volunteers through various capacities and programs. Carmine is very passionate about finding ways to help the Rise deliver services accessibly and effectively to clients and other organizations around BC to better fight systems of inequity and oppression.
Carmine is a second-generation settler, born on the unceded and traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations (colloquially known as Vancouver) to Cantonese-descent refugees from Vietnam, and was raised on the unceded and traditional lands of the q̓ ícə̓y (Katzie), Semiahmoo, and Qw’?ntl’en (Kwantlen) Nations (colloquially known as Surrey).
When not learning about new things in her spare time, Carmine also enjoys plant-collecting, singing, photography, art, and travelling.
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Asha joined Rise in 2025 and is passionate about creating a more equitable legal system. They completed their undergraduate degree in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and has dedicated their career to accessibility and inclusion.
In their spare time, Asha enjoys horseback riding, needlework, and circus tricks.
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Gabrielle joined Rise in 2022. Before joining Rise, Gabrielle was a family lawyer in private practice for six years. She assisted clients at all levels of court in BC, tackling a wide range of complex legal issues, including cases involving family violence. She became well-acquainted with the family court system and the challenges that frequently meet women who interact with it.
Gabrielle has a JD from the University of Victoria Faculty of Law. She also holds a BA in women’s studies and BFA (Honours) in visual art from the University of Calgary. As a law student, she worked with West Coast LEAF on the Cyber Misogyny project, an initiative looking at legal responses to gendered harassment of women and girls online. Gabrielle is passionate about issues of equality and hopes to help expand access to justice with Rise. In her free time, Gabrielle likes to spend time with family, draw and paint, and enjoy the outdoors.
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Shannon came to Rise as a Social Work practicum student in January 2025. After graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work from UBC in May 2025, she began working at Rise as a Jr. Advocate on the Community Legal Clinic team, providing support and assistance to clients in the Lower Mainland as they navigate their family law matter.
Originally from Treaty 8 territory in Alberta, Shannon grew up in the city colonially known as Grande Prairie. She is passionate about engaging in non-profit work that combats gender-based violence at both the individual and the systemic level, and she strives to find creative resolutions for clients who may not otherwise have access to legal support. She can support clients in either French or English, and she's proud to contribute to the work that Rise does to combat gender-based violence, both at the personal and the systemic level.
When she's not working, Shannon spends her time enjoying the beauty of Vancouver's scenery and reading her way through the bookstores.
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Jackeline brings over 7 years of experience supporting refugee claimants, newcomers, temporary foreign workers and individuals with diverse abilities facing multiple barriers. With roots in Latin America, she was born in Guatemala.
As a Legal Navigator at Rise, Jackeline provides legal information, explains next steps, and makes referrals to community resources as individuals move through the legal system. Her work reflects her values and commitment to supporting people through challenging situations, and she believes access to justice means fostering safety, support, and equal opportunities when people need it most.
She acknowledges that she works on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in Vancouver. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, spending time with family and friends, and learning new things.
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Niki was born and raised on the traditional, unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) peoples, which she considers herself privileged to have the opportunity to live, work, and play in. She is a second-generation settler who traces her roots as an ethnic Serb from former Yugoslavia. Niki came to Rise as a Social Work practicum student in January 2026. She possesses a Social Service Worker Diploma from Langara, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and a Bachelor of Social Work from UBC. After graduating, she began working at Rise in June 2026.
Niki strongly believes in the importance of community and is honoured to have the chance to work with the people Rise serves. She strives to use her work to improve the day to day lives of those she works with through doing her part to push for systemic change. Time spent in volunteering groups has made her passionate about technology-facilitated violence and the serious impacts it has on women and gender-diverse folks - such as the right for everyone to use online spaces safely and without fear.
In her free time, Niki enjoys writing, drawing, and gaming - including tabletop roleplaying games with her friends and family. Her guilty pleasure is spending time at Cat Cafes and watching the cats, preferably with a warm cup of coffee.
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Courtney began at Rise as a practicum student for her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of British Columbia. She returned to Rise to become a Family Law Advocate for our Community Legal Clinic, and then the Family Law Services Coordinator.
Courtney has always been passionate about fighting injustice in the legal system, and she feel honoured to work at Rise where she can help to mitigate that experience for clients. Courtney grew up in traditional Treaty 7 Territory, in a town colloquially known as Olds, Alberta. She is honoured to live and work in the unceded homelands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations .
When she’s not at Rise, Courtney enjoys long rainy walks, riding the bus, and FaceTiming with her slew of nieces and nephews back home. She is currently in the process of teaching her cat, Chicken, how to juggle.
Virtual Legal Clinic
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Natalie is the supervising lawyer for for the VLC. She supervises a team of 5 incredibly dedicated and skilled VLC staff members, providing virtual legal services to women and gender diverse people who cannot afford lawyers, outside of the Lower Mainland but within the Province of BC.
Prior to joining Rise Women’s Legal Centre Natalie practiced family law in Langley, Surrey and Vancouver, which included launching a family law firm in Gastown. Throughout her career she has focused on Family Law and has witnessed and supported clients navigating personal and systemic barriers in accessing the Family Justice system in BC. Most recently Natalie worked as a Family Law Advocate with Victoria Women’s Transition House Society, providing front-line family law support, advocacy and education to survivors of intimate partner and family violence.
Natalie has seen first-hand the empowerment that excellent legal information and advice, combined with support and care and delivered through client-centered wrap around services, can offer clients. She sees joining Rise as her opportunity to contribute to this important work while also identifying systemic issues and advancing systemic change to the Family Justice system in BC.
Natalie has a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie Law School and attended UBC for her undergraduate LLB.
Natalie is always interested in learning new things (currently: accordion and crochet), while balancing tried and true passions including dog walks on the beach with her husband, morning runs, long-term book club membership and spending time nosing into the interests of her three beautiful children.
Natalie is honoured to live and work on the ancestral lands of the Lkwungen and SENCOFEN speaking peoples of the WSANEC, Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, commonly known as Victoria, BC.
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Stephanie has been working remotely with the Virtual Legal Clinic at Rise since 2021. In her community engagement role, she partners with support workers across the province to provide guidance and training on family law issues and how to help their clients when they cannot afford a lawyer of their own. In her research role, she conducts studies of the legal field in BC with the goal of furthering systemic change. In October 2024 she and Vicky Law published nine key recommendations for government and the legal profession to make family law more inclusive and accessible. She is currently working with Sam Davis to find solutions for court-user safety when attending court locations across BC. Stephanie started her career as a chemical engineer but transitioned into the social sector when she moved to Revelstoke in 2006. She has worked at a number of local organizations, including seven years as manager of the RCMP Victim Services program. The common theme across her career has been working on finding creative solutions to persistent problems.
Stephanie volunteers on many local, non-profit boards helping with youth sports, poverty reduction, seniors housing, and other social justice issues. She and her partner have two awesome teenagers that keep them very busy!
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Sarah is the legal navigator for the VLC. She provides direct services to clients who are experiencing family violence by helping them to navigate the legal system through the provision of legal information, assessing their eligibility for Rise programs, and making referrals to community organizations.
Prior to joining Rise in 2025, Sarah worked as a Family Law Advocate for 6 years at Campbell River Advocacy. Through her work as an advocate supporting clients dealing with family law issues, Sarah became familiar with Rise both in accessing services for clients, such as obtaining legal advice through the VLC, and the support and education that Rise offers to Family Law Advocates. Due to barriers accessing justice and other issues in the legal system, including a lack of recognition of family violence, Sarah found the skill and knowledge of Rise in addressing these issues invaluable. Sarah sees working as part of the VLC team to provide client-centered service as an excellent opportunity to make a positive contribution in family law and hopes to play a role in pushing for systemic change.
Sarah now lives and works on the ancestral lands of the Lkwungen and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples of the W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich), Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, commonly known as Victoria, BC, where her daughter attends university. Sarah and her daughter really enjoy exploring the parks and beaches in the area with Eddy, their Schipperke. They also enjoy attending cultural events, theatre, and concerts.
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Samantha (Sammy) is passionate about providing accessible, individualized support to clients navigating the family law system around the province.
Sammy’s background in sociology and social work has fostered a keen interest in working alongside those pursuing equity and justice.
Before joining Rise, Sammy worked at several community organisations, focusing on healthcare, food security, and family violence.
In her free time, she enjoys exploring new cafes, walks with friends, crocheting, and any form of DIY project!
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Brianne is a second-generation settler of Cantonese descent, currently on the stolen and traditional lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
At Rise, Brianne connects clients with our community partners, family law advocates, and additional legal resources across the province. She also assists both clients and community partners with accessing Virtual Legal Clinic Programs at Rise.
Her journey to Rise includes program facilitation, development and coordination in public and private post secondary education, and the non-profit sector, with a focus on decolonization and Indigenization, reducing language barriers, providing crisis intervention, increasing harm reduction and securing access to essential needs.
Brianne is an aspiring polyglot who enjoys listening to standup comedy, gaming and dancing.
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Amanda has a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts from Trent University. She completed her articles with Rise Women's Legal Centre and was called to the bar in September 2023.
Amanda came to law with a passion for access to justice and family law. During her time in law school, she was an editor for the Canadian Journal of Family Law, a temporary articled student at Rise's student clinic, and she completed a directed research project on improving access to justice for teenage girls affected by family law disputes. She has worked with clients through the Law Students' Legal Advice Program and Pro Bono Students Canada. Amanda was a recipient of the Wayne Robertson K.C. Access to Justice Award (2021) and the Beverley McLachlin Legal Access Award (2022).
Amanda lives on the unceded traditional lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. In her free time, Amanda can be found reading, crafting, and buying too many house plants
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Katheryn completed their Bachelor of Arts and, subsequently, their Juris Doctor in 2025 at the University of British Columbia. They originally came to Rise during law school, when they were a student clinician at Rise’s Student Legal Clinic. Their experience as a student clinician solidified their passion for family law and for supporting women and gender diverse individuals who have experienced family violence navigate the legal system.
Returning to Rise as an articling student, Katheryn is currently assisting clients through the Virtual Legal Clinic. They hope to bring the client-centred and trauma-informed approach to lawyering that they have learned at Rise through the rest of their career.
Outside of the office, Katheryn can be found buying more books than they can read, building Legos, and trying to keep their houseplants alive for more than a year.
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Bio coming soon…
Family Advocate Support Team
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Taruna Agrawal is responsible for supervising the Family Advocate Support team at Rise. In this program, Taruna supervises the CLS lawyers, family law advocate, and the Family Law Educator at Rise. She also operates a Family Advocate Support Line and provides training to advocates and workers across BC primarily in the area of family law. Prior to Rise, Taruna has worked at a boutique family law firm and has operated her own family and immigration law practice. Her work is grounded in a commitment to equity and access to justice, with a particular focus on supporting individuals leaving abusive relationships to secure the legal protections and support they need. Taruna has contributed her expertise to numerous non-profit organizations through volunteer positions, including service on Boards of Directors.
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Maggie is a staff lawyer at Rise. Maggie’s position is funded by the Law Foundation of BC ("LFBC"). Through this program Maggie acts as a supervising lawyer for LFBC-funded family law advocates (“FLAs”) in (mostly) remote communities. Maggie supports FLAs to help families in small communities and to improve their ability to access the justice system.
In her private practice outside of Rise, Maggie practices primarily in family law and she humbly serves as Family Duty Counsel for the Provincial Court on the unsurrendered land of the Heiltsuk Nation, known colonially as Bella Bella, and the Kitasoo Xai'Xais Nation, known colonially as Klemtu.
When she is not at the office, Maggie is at the ocean with her family, gardening while listening to true crime podcasts, or experimenting with paint, yarn, thread and other art mediums.
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Lucie is a staff lawyer at Rise. Lucie’s position is funded by the Law Foundation BC’s (LFBC) Centralized Legal Services program. Through this program, Lucie acts as a supervising lawyer for LFBC funded family law advocates in the Lower Mainland and remote areas in the province. Lucie has deep appreciation for the important work that family law advocates do and feels lucky to be able to work with them in her role at Rise. She focuses on providing multifaceted support to help family law advocates grow their skills and feel confident in providing the best services to their clients, to help clients achieve the best possible outcomes.
Lucie articled at Rise and thereafter founded Linden Law in Maple Ridge, where she practiced family and immigration law, taking on legal aid files and providing low bono services to clients with low incomes who were experiencing family violence. Lucie has represented clients in Supreme Court and Provincial Court. She also spent time assisting clients living in precarious conditions to correct and obtain access to their foundational identification documents, such as birth certificates. With a special interest in disability, health, and mental health law, Lucie is also passionate about finding ways to help clients who face high-barriers due to their disability or health-related concerns access compassionate legal support.
Outside of legal work, Lucie enjoys spending time with her family, unravelling a good mystery, and exploring local nature walks with Oliver, her mischievous terrier.
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Sarah is a staff lawyer at Rise. Sarah’s position is funded by the Law Foundation BC’s (LFBC) Centralized Legal Services program. Through this program, Sarah acts as a supervising lawyer for LFBC funded family law advocates throughout the province.
Prior to joining Rise, Sarah worked primarily in the areas of family and child protection law. This work demonstrated to her the many barriers intersect to deny justice to families navigating these systems. Having seen the impact that a good advocate can make, she feels incredibly privileged to get to support family law advocates in their vital work.
When not at work, Sarah can be found spending time with her wife, Elizabeth and their pets – Fresca (a spirited rescue dog) and Jubilee (chaos in the form of a tiny calico cat). She learning and abandoning multiple hobbies in quick succession, with her most recent fixation being digital art.
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Simona joined Rise in 2022. Working as a family law advocate since 2018, Simona has been on the ground with self-represented clients navigating family law and related legal systems. Simona has a bachelor’s degree in criminology. She was born in Macedonia and immigrated to Canada with her family in the 7th grade but currently lives on the lands of the Kwikwetlem First Nation. Simona comes to this work to help folks overcome barriers in access to justice and is eager to connect clients to the best resources (and to help resources do their best work). Simona is continuously inspired by her clients every day, and their strength and resiliency keep her motivated to keep doing her best work. When she is not at work, Simona tries to spend time with her family, friends, and her dogs every chance she gets.
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Kelsey grew up watching tv shows and playing video games with a strong focus on strong connections with others and fighting for justice in corrupt systems. She has taken the passion she learned for this into her work. Kelsey has worked in the wellness and recovery industry, worked as a women's counsellor, and also worked in the family law advocacy space prior to joining Rise. Kelsey has years of experience as a non-lawyer professional navigating family law and related spaces, which she brings to the table as she strategically works to find solutions for our clients. Kelsey also has an empathetic heart and does her best to create a safe and empowering environment for our clients in a system that may not always provide the answers they most hope for.
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Tina a Family Law Advocate and helps clients navigate their family court file, which can include filling out forms, writing affidavits, providing legal information on what to expect during the court process and how to prepare for it, as well as making referrals when necessary.
She was born and raised in France, but lived in various countries for the past 12 years. She respectfully acknowledges that she now lives, works, and plays on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples.
As a community partner before joining Rise, she witnessed firsthand the tremendous work the organization puts in towards implementing access legal support and education across the province, for clients and workers alike. Because in theory, access to justice is a human right but in reality it's a utopia, she believes our work is to try and restore the balance the best we can, at the micro and macro level simultaneously.
Her interests outside of work include sports, tattoos, reading, the outdoors, and the ocean is her happy place.
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Hilary joined Rise in 2023. Hilary has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and special education. She has spent most of her career working alongside people and communities who have experienced marginalization. In recent years, Hilary has taken a special interest in studying power literacy and utilizes what she has learned in her advocacy. Hilary began working as a family law advocate in 2018 and has a passion for helping people overcome barriers and advocating for systemic change. Outside of work, Hilary is an artist, writer, and creative. Hilary spends as much of her free time as possible with her family, friends, and pets.
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Hannah joined Rise to assist the family advocate support team by coordinating client appointments, managing data, and supporting Rise’s relationships with family advocates and anti-violence and legal organizations. Her responsibilities include outreach, scheduling meetings and training sessions, and developing webinars, e-courses, and other training content.
As a woman and a mother of Asian descent, Hannah understands firsthand the challenges that marginalized communities face. She believes that ensuring access to justice helps create a more equitable society, where individuals can defend their rights, and navigate the legal system with confidence. This commitment not only improves the present but also sets a powerful example for her child and future generations, instilling the importance of fairness and equality.
When Hannah isn't immersed in work, she's practicing yoga, exploring new places and cuisines, singing while playing her guitar, and cherishing quality moments with her family. She lives on the unceded traditional lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Clinical Education
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El Cameron (they/them) completed their B.A. at McGill University, their M.Sc. in Social Studies of Gender at Lund University in Sweden, and their J.D. at the University of British Columbia. Since their call to the bar, El has practiced exclusively in family law. Alongside colleagues, El has published or presented on a variety of family law topics and has taught the family law course at the University of British Columbia as an adjunct professor. El works to create a supportive and engaging learning environment within our Student Clinic program and to increase the availability of family law services in British Columbia that are informed, accessible, and responsive to each client’s unique circumstances. Out of the office, El can most often be found hiking, volunteering, or spending time with their family and their highly opinionated rescue cat.
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Sarah attended the University of Ottawa for her undergraduate studies and law school. Originally from Vancouver Island, Sarah returned to BC after graduating law school to begin her legal career. Since being called to the bar in 2021, Sarah has primarily practiced family law.
Before joining Rise, she worked as a family law lawyer in private practice, where she gained extensive litigation experience, achieving favorable outcomes for her clients at all levels of court in BC. Additionally, Sarah has considerable experience helping her clients resolve their matters outside of court through alternative dispute resolution processes.
Sarah is particularly passionate about supporting clients who have experienced family violence and is committed to continuing this work at Rise. She works hard to ensure that her clients feel informed, supported, and empowered, both in and out of the courtroom.
At Rise, Sarah serves as one of the Supervising Lawyers for the Student Legal Clinic, working with upper year UBC law students. She also works with the Education and Research team to develop training programs and resources for lawyers in BC.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her lovely family and friends and her perfect black lab, Ellie.
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Samantha began her time at Rise as a Masters of Social Work practicum student. After completing her practicum, she worked for several years as the Virtual Legal Advocate, working with clients around the province who need help with their family law, equality law, and some immigration-related legal matters.
Samantha is a passionate about creating access to justice and ending violence against women, trans*, and gender diverse folks, especially at the intersection of family law.
Samantha’s Master’s dissertation was on substance use stigma in community drug checking, and was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. She co-authored Rise’s 2026 report, Access, Safety, and Regional Context: A Comprehensive Assessment of BC Court Locations.
As the supervisor of Rise’s pioneering Student Advocacy Clinic, Samantha is dedicated to providing comprehensive and hands-on learning opportunities to social work students across Canada.
Samantha is currently completing her PhD at the University of British Columbia’s School of Social Work, where she is also an Adjunct Professor.
In her spare time, Samantha enjoys adventuring with her fiancée and step-dog.
Research and Education
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Lori is the Education Manager at Rise Women’s Legal Centre, where she oversees educational programs and initiatives that support women and gender-diverse people in BC. Born in Canada to Chinese immigrant parents, Lori brings over eight years of legal experience from both Canada and Asia, where she lived for nine years.
As a Chinese woman and mother, Lori is driven by feminist values and a strong commitment to equity. She believes in making the legal system more accessible and inclusive, especially for those who are often overlooked or underserved. Lori has contributed to equity and inclusion efforts through her involvement in networks for racialized lawyers and initiatives supporting women in law.
She holds a Certificate in Legal Studies from the University of Hong Kong and a master’s degree from the University of London.
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Nithasha is the Education Manager at Rise Women’s Legal Centre, where she oversees educational programs and initiatives for the organisation. She works on developing accessible learning opportunities, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing Rise’s mission through education-driven advocacy. Nithasha chose to work at Rise because she believes deeply in the power of education and awareness to create safer, more equitable communities for everyone. As an immigrant herself, she believes that access to justice means removing barriers that prevent people from being heard and empowering individuals with the knowledge to navigate systems.
Throughout her career in India and Canada, Nithasha has worked extensively in community development, supporting initiatives that strengthen equity, inclusion, and rights-based advocacy. She welcomes collaboration related to community engagement and interdisciplinary approaches to social change. Outside of work, Nithasha enjoys swimming, yoga, reading, spending time in nature, and exploring good food.
Board of Directors
Rise is governed by our volunteer Board of Directors who have a wide range of experience and knowledge. The board is responsible for strategic planning and oversight of the organization.
Board members are elected to their position for a two-year term and can serve for a maximum of four terms. We have twelve board members serving on the Rise board.
Board Members
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Laésha joined the Rise Women’s Legal Centre board in October 2023. Laésha is a partner Poulus Ensom Smith LLP where she maintains a dispute resolution practice focused on securities, administrative law and complex commercial litigation.
Before her own private practice firm, Laésha worked in the public sector as litigation counsel at the BC Securities Commission. Before relocating to BC in 2015, Laésha practiced for 10 years at international law firms in New York and London where her practice focused on commercial litigation as well as a broad range of regulatory and white collar criminal issues.
Laésha currently sits on the Canadian Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee and is the co-chair of the CBA’s Women Lawyer’s Forum’s Education Committee. She is also Vice President of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers.
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Patrice Mulvihill, CPA, joined the Rise Women’s Legal Clinic Board in November 2024, bringing a deep commitment to purpose-driven organizations that advance community well-being. She is passionate about fostering inclusive leadership, collaboration, and accountability to achieve mission-driven success.
An accomplished financial leader, Patrice has extensive experience in strategic financial planning, operational efficiency, and governance excellence. As Interim CFO and Vice President of Finance at Mitacs Inc., she oversees the organization's financial strategy, ensuring fiscal responsibility and excellence in financial management. Patrice's expertise aligns seamlessly with Rise's mission to empower women through accessible legal services.
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Erez Aloni is an Associate Professor at UBC’s Peter A. Allard School of Law, where he teaches contracts, family law, and law and sexuality. Aloni serves on the Executive Council of the International Society of Family Law and has been Faculty Co-Editor of the Canadian Journal of Family Law since 2017. In addition to publishing in scholarly law journals and edited collections, he has written op-eds for the LA Times, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and The Vancouver Sun, and he is a frequent source of expert commentary in media. Earlier in his career, he was a Fellow at the Center for Reproductive Rights and Columbia Law School, and an Assistant Professor at Whittier Law School in California. He earned his LL.M. and S.J.D. at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
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Alison is a consultant dedicated to lifting and amplifying BC’s non-profit sector. She has been an Executive Director (West Coast LEAF 1999-2011; 2016) Vantage Point 2018-2021), an Interim Executive Director (VAST, BCCLA, Seniors First, Access Pro Bono etc.), and continues as a non-profit leadership consultant (Many - see alisonbrewin.ca for a full list). She served on the UBC Board of Governors for 6 years, teaches in SFU’s Non-profit Management program, and is working on a book loosely entitled ‘How purpose-driven non-profit management will save the world’. She raised a pack of children with a community of parents in East Van and has recently moved to Pender Island with her wife, Elisabeth.
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Harshada works on the traditional territories of the šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples.
Harshada obtained her BA in Psychology and Criminology from SFU in 2011, her JD from UBC in 2014, and was called to the BC bar in 2017. Harshada has been a Staff Lawyer at the Vancouver Parents Legal Centre (“PLC”) since 2018. In this role, she represents parents in child protection proceedings, with a focus on early and collaborative resolution. Prior to working at the PLC, Harshada was the Managing Lawyer at Battered Women’s Support Services, where she provided legal advice and representation to self-identified women experiencing gender-based violence. Harshada is passionate about improving women’s access to justice and using a collaborative approach to empower her clients to make the best decisions for their families.
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Maryanna is a senior associate at Hunter Litigation Chambers where she practices civil litigation and dispute resolution, with a focus on corporate commercial litigation.
Maryanna obtained her J.D. from the Peter A. Allard School of Law in 2018. Maryanna also clerked at the BC Supreme Court before she was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2020.
During law school, Maryanna was a legal advocate at Atira Legal Advocacy Program and one of a handful of student clinicians at Rise Women's Legal Centre. After several years, Maryanna is thrilled to continue her support of Rise Women's Legal Centre as a member of the board.
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Joyce is a seasoned legal professional with extensive experience in organizational accountability and board governance. Born the 10th of 12 children on a family farm in Saskatchewan, her passion for education and community engagement paved the way for a lengthy career in law.
For over 20 years, Joyce has specialized in regulatory and administrative law, including six years as General Counsel and Deputy Registrar at a health regulator and 15 years at the COMMISSION. Prior to moving in-house, Joyce practiced both criminal and civil litigation at Singleton and then Blakes in Vancouver.
Beyond legal practice, Joyce is an active board member of Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), which provides education-based hockey opportunities for athletes across North America. Previously a long-serving board member of Touchstone Theatre Board, Joyce played a pivotal role in bridging the legal and arts communities through the creation of the Annual Lawyer Show, which continues today. Additionally, Joyce has been a key organizer in developing a women’s division for ‘Hockey Helps the Homeless’, a one-day charity event that raises funds for street-level organizations.
In addition to her legal and governance experience, Joyce holds degrees in Economics, Environmental Studies and Psychology.
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Dimple is the CEO of Satya Law and Sayva Consulting, and is a lawyer, mediator, investigator, and consultant. Dimple’s legal practice focuses on professional regulation, employment law, and independent investigations. She acts for organizations and registrants in regulatory matters, provides lawyers and law firms with proactive regulatory and ethical advice aimed at reducing the risk of regulatory intervention, and advises employers and employees on employment law matters.
Through Sayva Consulting, Dimple offers a range of consulting services to lawyers and law firms, including education, coaching, and resources designed to support the development of sustainable legal practices and healthy workplace systems. She is also working towards her EDI Certification and provides EDI consulting, culture assessments, and training to law firms and other employers on a variety of regulatory, cultural, and workplace matters.
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Aimée is the founder of Refocus Fundraising and a Senior Consultant at Global Philanthropic Canada. A gifted writer and speaker, Aimée authored How to Talk About Legacy Giving and How to Engage Potential Legacy Donors, and brings over 20 years of marketing and communications experience, a tender heart, an insightful mind, and a drive to make meaningful connections with supporters in every organization she collaborates with.
As one of the first in the world to complete a certificate in Philanthropic Psychology, she shares new approaches with charities across Canada — from the largest national organizations to local non-profits — helping them engage their supporters more deeply.
She has assisted many organizations across Canada to raise funds including: United Way BC, University of British Columbia, VGH+UBC Hospital Foundation, Heart & Stroke Foundation Canada, The Salvation Army (Canada), Easter Seals BC/Yukon and many others.
Aimée has held leadership positions on the Greater Vancouver Chapters of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and she regularly gives back to the sector as a speaker and teacher.
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Profile coming soon
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Emily joined the Rise Women’s Legal Centre board in September 2024. Emily currently works at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia as the Public Interest Coordinator. In this role, she promotes public interest law to Allard Law JD and graduate students, and enhances the public interest law career opportunities and resources available to students.
Emily received her BA from the University of Manitoba and her JD from the University of Victoria. She was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 2021, and practiced human rights law at a public interest organization in Vancouver prior to joining Allard. She aims to apply an empathetic, feminist, anti-racist, trauma-informed, empowerment-based perspective in all of her work.
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Thelma joined the Rise Women’s Legal Centre board in September 2025. She is a seasoned employment lawyer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her practice primarily serves employers—advising founders, executives, and management teams on a comprehensive range of employment, labour, and human rights matters—while maintaining a selective interest in representing individual professionals on the employee side. Thelma is a trusted advisor and is frequently sought after for her expertise in employment law. In addition to her employment practice, Thelma is also a go-to advisor for employers on employee privacy matters.
Beyond her legal work, Thelma is deeply committed to global affairs, internal relations, politics, and social justice causes. She is a passionate advocate against racism and works to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in both the workplace and society at large. Thelma previously served on the national board of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and is also an alumnus of the United Nations Association of Canada's International Development and Diplomacy Internship Programme.
Annual Reports
