Human Rights Learning Forum

Alex Neve

Alex is a visiting and adjunct international human rights law professor at the University of Ottawa and Dalhousie University and a Senior Fellow with the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. He served as Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada’s English Branch from 2000 to 2020. He is a lawyer with a Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex.

He participated in over forty human rights research and advocacy delegations throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, Guantánamo Bay, and, closer to home, First Nations communities in Canada. He has an LLB from Dalhousie University and a Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex. 

Alex has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Trudeau Foundation Mentor. He is a recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and has received three honorary Doctorate of Laws degrees. 

Jacqueline Lamarre

Jacqueline is a proficient, professional, people-driven, practitioner of peace. She holds a BA in Conflict Studies from Saint Paul University (SPU) and is a Qualified Mediator with the Alternate Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada (ADRIC), a Certified Graduate Coach from Coaching Out of the Box©, and a Certified Facilitator with ForGiving ForRestoring Canada (FFC).

Jacqueline joined the public service in 2020 as an informal conflict management practitioner. She also works with private clients as the founder and lead mediator of 5:9 Mediation. Before that, she worked in administration at the Ottawa Police Service, following 15+ years in customer relations and marketing roles across many industries and sectors.

Jessica Poloz

Jessica is a passionate advocate and ally for people affected by gender-based violence. She has worked in the gender-based violence sector for 13 years, initially as a front-line worker and, more recently, as a manager of the Gender-Based Violence Team at Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre. Jessica is a past chair of the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) Justice Standing Committee and coordinates the Violence Against Women Advocate Case Review in partnership with the Ottawa Police Service. She works from a feminist, inclusive and equity lens.

John Hoyles

In November 2017, John took on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario/211 East. This non-profit organization provides information and referral services to individuals in need of community, social and health services across the eastern Ontario region and is part of the 211 Ontario network.  John continues as Chief Executive Officer of Relationships are Everything, Inc. a company dedicated to informing and educating executives and others about the importance of relationships in achieving success.

Mr. Hoyles joined the Bruyère Continuing Care- Board of Directors in November 2014, served as the Chair of the Quality Committee and the Facilities Development Committee, and was Chair of the board from 2021 to June 2024.

Phong Le

A/S/Sgt. Phong Le is a 21-year veteran of the Ottawa Police Service. During his career, he has worked as a patrol officer, in Special Events, Community Policing, and the School Resource Officer program. In 2022, he helped start the full-time Police Liaison Team program. He was recently assigned to the Court House Security Section. Phong is proud to serve his community and is passionate about his work in community policing.

Robyn Lalonde

Robyn Lalonde works for the Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario/211 East Ontario as the Special Projects Manager on Ottawa's Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) pilot project. Robyn has a degree in Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa and is a trained professional organizer. Robyn has lived experience with poverty, mental health and substance use and uses this experience to help people in the community.

Throughout her career, Robyn has worked primarily for non-profit organizations, including the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), United Way East Ontario (UWEO) and the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre.  While at the CBA, Robyn served as the Executive Office Manager and also managed the Wellness Forum, which provided wellness programs for members of the legal profession and coordinated training for staff delivering wellness programs throughout Canada.  Robyn was the Executive Office Manager at UWEO and assisted with organizing Board meetings and Community Response Table meetings during COVID.

Jordana Globerman

Jordana is a graphic facilitator and designer based in Ottawa.  Since 2015, she's worked internationally to bring caring, creative transformation to services, products, and organizations. Experienced in Design Thinking, service design, UX, illustration and facilitation, Jordana has worked with clients across sectors to help them build and share vision with visual storytelling. Her clients include The Museum of Nature, KPMG, the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies and Fast Company.

Fred May

Fred worked as an IT engineer for many years in Ottawa at Nortel and Ericsson. He is married with three adult children and is now retired. Fred was a scout leader for many years and cycled across Canada in 2007 as part of the Scouting Centennial. He volunteers with Connected Canadians, providing IT support to seniors in Canada. He also helps with a choir at a local retirement residence.

Heather Lachine

Superintendent Heather Lachine is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over 30 years of experience. Beginning with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in 1994 and joining the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) in 1999, she has served in diverse roles, including Patrol, Community Services, Human Resources, and Specialized Investigations. As a Superintendent, Heather leads the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Violence Against Women portfolio, demonstrating a deep commitment to improving support for victims. As a Critical Incident Commander and advocate for Indigenous women's safety, Superintendent Lachine brings expertise and passion to advancing systemic change.

Parm Burgie

Metis Senator Parm Burgie has made Ottawa her home for over 40 years.   She was born in Toronto; her father’s Metis Community comes from Penetanguishene, Ontario, and she is a citizen of the Metis Nation of Ontario.

Parm has been elected Metis Senator for the Ottawa Region Metis Council and has served the community council for over eight years. In her role as Senator, she helps foster bonds between community members at events and meetings. She helps keep Metis culture vibrant within the City of Ottawa by sharing Metis traditions and ways of life. Speaking at many engagements in advocacy of Metis recognition in Canada. In addition, Parm actively volunteers in many other organizations and boards within Ottawa, such as the Ottawa Equity Council and the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition.

Marisa Moher

Marisa brings over 20 years’ experience in mental health, community development and youth justice in clinical practice, program development, collective impact, operations, administration and taught in the. Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development Program at Algonquin College.  

Marisa is currently the Executive Director with Youturn Youth Support Services in Ottawa. Marisa has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Native Studies from Trent University and a Master of Social Work from Carleton University.  Marisa lives with her partner and 2 wonderful children in Ottawa where she is an avid runner, skier and designated driver for her children’s many sports endeavors.