MORGAN SIM – CHAIR
Morgan Sim is a civil litigator, workplace lawyer, and human rights advocate currently practicing at Pinto Wray James LLP in Toronto. Morgan works on all aspects of the firm’s practice including civil and commercial litigation, employment and labour, human rights, administrative, and constitutional law.
She has particularly broad experience providing advice and representation on matters involving sex-based discrimination and sexual harassment. Morgan has worked on cases before all levels of court in Ontario as well as the Supreme Court of Canada and numerous administrative tribunals.
Morgan is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s joint Juris Doctor and Master in International Relations program. As a law student, Morgan was a leading member of the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) and many feminist student initiatives. She also worked in chambers at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
As an IHRP clinic student, Morgan worked with the Equality Effect and traveled to Kenya to prepare the successful ‘160 Girls’ test-case litigation. She has also drafted public legal education campaigns on the criminalization of marital rape in Ghana as part of the 3 to be Free project. Morgan has remained involved in the work of the Equality Effect in the five years since her graduation and has cherished the opportunity to grow up as a lawyer alongside the work of this organization.
KIM BERNHARDT
Kim Bernhardt is a lawyer who was in private practice for many years with Grant & Bernhardt, Barristers & Solicitors, a firm that specialized in labour, employment, human rights, administrative, and constitutional law. She now acts as an arbitrator and mediator of labour disputes.
Kim has been involved in community and legal organizations concerned with equity, law, education, and social issues; Thistletown Community Services; Ontario Black History Society; Amnesty International; Halton Board of Education, Equity Committee; Urban Alliance on Race Relations; Canadian Association of Black Lawyers; Delos Davis Law Guild; National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL), and the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund’s (LEAF’s) National Legal Committee (NLC).
Kim has volunteered at the Money Matters clinic for the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Nathaniel Dett Chorale; the equality effect; and as a member of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario’s Procedural Advisory Committee. She has also served as the Law Society of Ontario’s representative on the Ontario Judicial Council.
JENNA KARA – SECRETARY
Jenna Kara is a civil litigator practicing at Gowling WLG in Toronto. Jenna is an active member of Gowling Toronto’s Momentum Committee whose mandate is to develop, implement and advance the firm’s diversity, inclusion and equity strategy. Jenna regularly volunteers with Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline and the Aga Khan Conciliation and Arbitration Board for Canada. She is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto Lawyer’s Association and The Advocates’ Society.
Jenna completed her Juris Doctor at the University of Toronto, Master’s of Science degree in Medical Biophysics (Molecular Imaging) at Western University and her Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) degree at Western University. During her legal studies, Jenna acted as co-editor-in-chief for the Journal of Law and Equality. Jenna also completed an International Human Rights Program Fellowship, in which she had the opportunity to work with the Equality Effect and travel to Kenya to research where and why do survivors of sexual assault fall through the gaps of the justice system. Jenna also holds a Certificate in Business and Consulting and a Certificate in the Rotman@Law program in accounting, finance and statistics.
ANNE MARIE MAYNE – TREASURER
Anne Marie Mayne is e²’s former Director of Finance. Anne Marie joined the e² finance team in early 2018. Anne Marie has a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and a CPA/CA designation. She has worked at KPMG and Price Waterhouse Coopers in Toronto and London, England where she lived for seven years with her husband and young family. Anne Marie has been an active volunteer; previous volunteer roles include Treasurer of the Maple Leaf Ball and Canadian Women’s Club in London, Vice-President, President and Past-President of the Crescent Parent Association and Board member, Crescent School. Anne Marie is fluent in French and enjoys travelling, hiking and golf, bridge, and cooking.
HON PATRICIA NYAUNDI
Patricia has Senior Counsel designation in Kenya, and serves as a judge of the High Court of Kenya. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Patricia was the Rule of Law Advisor at the National Counsel on the Administration of Justice – Office of the Chief Justice, Kenya. Patricia is the former Secretary and CEO of the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights. Prior to her position with the KNCHR, Patricia was the Secretary and CEO of the Kenyan Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission. In 2012 Patricia was the Dame Nita Barrow Fellow at the University of Toronto. She has served as the Executive Director of the Federation of Women Lawyers-Kenya (FIDA-Kenya). Patricia is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and she holds a Master of Laws in Human Rights law from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Before joining FIDA Kenya, Patricia worked as a State Counsel in the Attorney General’s office and was also an advocate in private practice.
THERESA WIDDIFIELD
With 20+ years of finance-related business experience in entrepreneurial environments within the financial services and software development industries, Theresa Widdifield started her own business 8 years ago. She manages family offices for high net worth individuals and their families. Prior to that, Theresa was a principal at Coventree Inc. and previously she served as CFO of Leeward Hedge Funds Inc. and CertaPay Inc.. Theresa spent over 8 years at progressive roles in the finance and operations areas of Trimark Financial Corporation. Theresa’s volunteer experience includes having sat on the Board as Treasurer of the KiBO Foundation which aims to alleviate poverty through education, based in Uganda, and the Centennial Infant and Child Centre Foundation. Theresa is a Chartered Professional Accountant and received her MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University.
US Board
ALEX KOCHIS – CHAIR
Alex is the President and Founder at FiveBy, a Seattle-area risk intelligence consulting and services firm. Founded in 2010, FiveBy provides risk intelligence, program development, data management, analytics, and other services to leading software and technology companies.
Prior to founding FiveBy Alex was a Director of Product Management at Microsoft.
Alex has previously served as a founder and board member of a private non-profit alternative K-12 school in the Puget Sound area. He is also currently a partner at Social Venture Partners Seattle and is active in funding scientific research to better understand the causes and effects of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) through the Solve ME/CFS Initiative and other related organizations.
SUSAN WRIGHT
Susan has a B.Sc. in Engineering from Queen’s University. Based in Seattle, she is Founder and Managing Director of Compass Partners which provides market research and strategy consulting to leading west coast technology companies including Amazon, Bluetooth, VMware and Microsoft as well as start-up companies in the U.S. and Canada. Susan sits on the Leadership Board of the College of Arts & Sciences at Santa Clara University.
