Christine Doucet obtained her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2012. Christine also holds a Bachelor of Social Work from York University. Christine articled at the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL), Ministry of the Attorney General and was called to the bar in 2013. From 2013-2023, Christine worked as in house counsel with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. Christine returned to the OCL as counsel in 2023 where she provides legal representation to children and youth in family and child protection cases. In this role, Christine also acts as a regional supervisor to OCL panel agents across the province. She also co-manages the OCL’s secure treatment and older youth programs.

Christine is passionate about mentorship and regularly acts as a mentor to law students and new lawyers. Christine is an instructor at Osgoode Hall Law School teaching trial advocacy to upper year law students. Christine sits on the Board of Directors of the Osgoode Hall Alumni Association. Since 2022, Christine has been a cast member of the Lawyer Show, the annual musical fundraiser for Toronto’s Nightwood Theatre.

Dr. Catherine Horvath is the Founder and Executive Director of the Ottawa Centre for Resilience (OCFR), a mental health centre for childhood trauma and dissociation, attachment, adoption, and high-conflict families in Ottawa and surrounding regions. Dr. Horvath is a clinical and forensic psychologist, as well as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, EMDR therapist, Circle of Security – Parenting facilitator, and Safe and Sound Protocol practitioner.

Dr. Horvath focuses on working with those struggling with disruptive behaviours, self-regulation, attachment, and sexual behaviour issues related to histories of adverse childhood experiences, complex developmental trauma, adoption related issues, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, high-conflict parenting dynamics, and involvement with the child welfare, family court, and criminal justice systems.

Dr. Horvath regularly provides consultation and trainings in the areas of child development, parenting, trauma, attachment, trauma-informed approaches, and high-risk, complex youth. Dr. Horvath also has expertise in conducting forensic assessments (e.g., Parenting Assessments, Juvenile Forensic Risk Assessments, Secure Treatment Assessments, Expert Opinion for civil and child welfare matters) and has been qualified as an expert witness in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Family Court and by the Child and Family Services Review Board of Ontario.

Justice McGee is the lead family judge for the Brampton Superior Court of Justice and has been the judicial lead for the successful expansion of Brampton’s Dispute Resolution Program, and Mediation Services. Prior to July of 2020 she was the most senior full time Unified Family Court Judge in Newmarket, appointed in May of 2009.

Justice McGee hears cases in all areas of the law, including civil and family appeals. In family law, she champions an evidence based, trauma informed and multidisciplinary approach to helping families in transition; recognizing at the same time that our society as a whole is in transition.

Prior to her appointment, Justice McGee was a President of the Ontario Bar Association and a Practise Reviewer for the Law Society of Ontario. She has served on committees, legislative working groups and legal associations from the local to the national level. She continues to speak at Judicial and Legal Education programs with a focus on Modern Court Procedures, Evidence, and Effective Advocacy. She supports young lawyer initiatives and annually presides at the Walsh Family Law Negotiation Competition, a province wide law school competition that she co-established in 2013.

Imran Kamal is Crown Counsel for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, specializing in Indigenous rights. Imran was legal counsel at the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton (CCAS) from 2014 to 2021. Imran is a LSO Certified Specialist in Indigenous Legal Issues. In 2021, Imran was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine. In 2023, Imran received the Precedent Setter Award for his work with Indigenous communities and received the Diversity Award from the South Asian Bar Association for his work in de-stigmatizing mental health and addiction as well as for his work with reconciliation.

Imran established Hamilton Lawyers Feed the Hungry, is a weekly volunteer at a Men’s Live-in Addiction Treatment Centre, and Board Member of Mission Services of Hamilton.

Imran was a member of the Family Law Subcommittee of the Hamilton law Association and the Bench and Bar subcommittee of the Hamilton Law Association, and was the Treasurer for the Organization of Counsel for Children’s Aid Societies of Ontario. Imran is currently a pro-bono consultant for the Adoption Council of Ontario and the Chairperson of the Adult Adoption Advocacy Group and a member of the organizing committee of the United Way John Sopinka Legal Luncheon. Imran serves as a LPP mentor for Ryerson University, and is a consultant for the University of Toronto’s “Toolkit for Evidence-Based Child Protection Practice”, as well as an Expert Lawyer for Pro Bono Students Canada. Imran has organized and presented at numerous conferences on issues of family law, child protection and Indigenous legal issues.

With over 7 years of recovery, Imran has dedicated himself to support others recovering from addiction. Since 2016, Imran has been a weekly volunteer at a men’s residential addiction treatment centre, providing support and resources for men overcoming alcohol and drug addiction. Imran is an active member of Voices for Mental Health which is a grassroots group of MAG employees who strives for change in the area of mental health within the Ontario Public Service and the legal profession. In 2023 Imran shared his experience as a presenter at the LSO Mental Health Summit. He has presented to numerous Bay Street firms, various law associations and within the Ontario Public Service about his journey recovering from addiction.

Imran is particularly passionate about Indigenous child welfare. Imran was involved in forming the Indigenous Resource Group at the CCAS and was the chairperson of the Indigenous Resource Group for five years. In addition, he works in the community to enhance the service delivery to Indigenous families involved in the child welfare system. Imran is the founding Co-Chairperson of the Indigenous Child Welfare Collaborative, which brings together seven (7) Indigenous community organizations and the two child welfare agencies in Hamilton to systemically and holistically address child welfare issues in the Indigenous community. He is  part of the Collaboratory for the Boldness Project to address Indigenous issues in the justice system and has been appointed a Steward to move forward with the Hamilton Boldness Project. Most recently, Imran was appointed as the Chairperson of the Indigenous Child Welfare “Court”  SCJ working group.

Imran was called to the Bar in Ontario in 2013. Prior to joining the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton, Imran practiced in domestic family law in Halton region where his main area of practice was custody and access issues.

Professor Shelley Kierstead teaches Family Law (core and advanced) and Child Protection law at Osgoode Hall Law School.  She completed a doctoral dissertation in the family law area and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Professor Kierstead, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Attorney General, developed a Child Protection externship for upper year students. She is also Director of the Legal Process course at Osgoode and teaches a number of courses within Osgoode’s Professional Development program. Her research interests lie in the areas of children and families, professionalism, the development of expertise in legal writing, and Therapeutic Jurisprudence.

Professor Kierstead is currently Chair of the International Society for Therapeutic Jurisprudence.

Dr. Rana Pishva C. Psych is a clinical psychologist in private practice. She provides psychological services to children, adolescents and adults. She offers individual psychotherapy, mental health assessments, and parenting assessments.  She is a trained facilitator of the Circle of Security parenting program, certified in the treatment of perinatal trauma and on the Emotional Availability rating scales. Dr. Pishva has served on the board of AFCC-O since 2021, and participated on the task force for the development of the AFCC-O Parenting Plan Guide and Template. She is now co-chair of the Education Committee.

Dr. Pishva is passionate about providing a space for clients to make sense of their personal story. Her clinical work is focused on relationships and includes trauma-related and attachment disorders, peri-natal and parenting issues, including separation planning, as well as court-ordered parenting assessments. Dr. Pishva also provides parenting workshops, supervision and training to professionals. She volunteers as a Board Member for the Youville Center in Ottawa.