Paul Saguil

Chair

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Paul is an award-winning queer Filipino-Canadian lawyer who has defended equality and human rights before the Supreme Court of Canada. He currently works on the front lines of fighting financial crime and combating corruption worldwide. He has demonstrated his passion and long-standing commitment to equity for vulnerable and marginalized communities through a career dedicated to volunteerism and public service.

Paul has served in leadership capacities with a number of organizations, including as Corporate Treasurer of Asian Community AIDS Services and the Ontario Justice Education Network, as well as Chair of Start Proud, the Law Society of Ontario Equity Advisory Group, and the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law Caucus of the Canadian/Ontario Bar Association. Previously having served for 5 years on The 519 Board of Management and its various committees (including as Corporate Secretary and Vice-Chair), Paul is looking forward to advancing The 519’s strategic priorities and assist with important public advocacy and capacity building initiatives during a critical period of organizational and societal transition.

Tom Spence

Vice-Chair

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Tom holds a Masters in History from McMaster University. He has called Toronto home for over 10 years and has been consistently volunteering in leadership roles within the 2SLGBTQ+ communities since he arrived. He has served as a co-lead at Pride Toronto, on the Board of Directors for Forte – The Toronto Gay Men’s Chorus, and on the steering committee for the Friends For Life Bike Rally. Most recently he was a Senior Advisor to the 25th Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne. A proud retired member of the Canadian Forces-Army Reserve, he resides in the Church and Wellesley Village with his husband Mith.

Zoe Robinson

Treasurer

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Zoe Robinson has a CPA, CMA accreditation and is the Director of Corporate Services at the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. She worked in amateur sport for most of her 30-year career as an executive with a national sports organization. Zoe has served on multiple boards of directors over her career most recently with the Canadian Mental Health Organization – Vancouver/Fraser Branch, Parachute Canada, and The Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Services Agencies of BC (AMSSA). Zoe has spoken publicly in the amateur sport community about her transition after she came out at 54-years of age in November 2018. She lives in East York, runs, reads historical fiction and business strategy, enjoys Taylor Swift, and has two adult children.

Erika Voaklander

Secretary

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Erika Voaklander is a lawyer at an Aboriginal law firm in Toronto, where she focuses on the negotiation and implementation of modern treaties and governance agreements. She grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, and is a descendant of the Swain and Gunn Métis families who relocated to the Sioux Lookout area from Red River.

Erika received her JD and a Certificate in Aboriginal Legal Studies from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. At law school, Erika was Co-President of the Indigenous Law Students’ Association and Out in Law. She received the Dean’s Leadership Award and the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award for her contributions to student life at the faculty. Prior to law school, Erika earned a BSc in Mathematics with an embedded Certificate in Indigenous Governance from the University of Alberta. During and after law school, she worked at a leading national law firm in Toronto where she completed her articles.

In her free time, Erika enjoys playing tennis and ultimate frisbee, working on her beadwork skills, and visiting Toronto parks with her dog Gus.

Pam Hrick

Member of the Board

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Pam Hrick is the Executive Director and General Counsel of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). She previously practiced law at Stockwoods LLP in Toronto. Pam received an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Ottawa and a law degree from Queen’s University. She has completed judicial clerkships at the Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal. Pam is actively involved in work dedicated to ending violence against women. She served as Vice-Chair of the Board of the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston and was a member of the University of Ottawa’s Task Force on Respect and Equality. She has also acted as pro bono counsel for the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic in appeals before the Ontario Superior Court. Pam has been recognized as a Leader To Be Proud Of by Start Proud.

Brett House

Member of the Board

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Brett House is Vice-President and Deputy Chief Economist at Scotiabank. Prior to joining Scotiabank in October 2016, Brett was Chief Economist at an alternative investment management start-up in Toronto and Global Strategist at Woodbine Capital Advisors, a New York-based global macro fund.

Earlier in his career, Brett served as Principal Advisor in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General and as an Economist at the International Monetary Fund. He cut his teeth in financial markets at Goldman Sachs International in London and at the World Bank in Washington, DC. Brett is a Rhodes Scholar with degrees in economics from the University of Oxford and Queen’s University at Kingston. In addition, he has taught at Oxford University, McGill University, and the University of Cape Town, and has held research roles at Columbia University and Massey College at the University of Toronto. Brett sits on the investment committees of Pearson College and the Canadian Rhodes Scholars’ Foundation.

He received the 2014 Québec Notable Award in Finance, the 2015 Good Citizen Award from his hometown of Lincoln, Ontario, and the 2018 Professional Leader Award from Start Proud. He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (Davos).

Contact Brett House

Juan Camilo Rendon Ocampo

Member of the Board

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Juan Camilo Rendon Ocampo is a Social Impact Senior Consultant at Intact Financial Corporation. In his role, he manages a $5M portfolio of charitable investments across Canada and leads Intact’s employee citizenship programs as well as the Intact Foundation’s operations.

Prior to Intact, Juan Camilo was an engagement officer and analyst for the Government of Canada where he supported enterprise-wide transformational initiatives with the Canada School of Public Service and the Department of Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Juan Camilo is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is actively involved in raising awareness and promoting efforts of inclusion at the workplace and in the community. He is the co-chair of the Intact LGBT & Allies Network (2019) and was selected to join Civic Action’s DiverseCity Fellows Program (2019). Juan holds a Masters of Arts in sociology and a Bachelor’s Degree (Joint Honours) in communications and sociology from the University of Ottawa.

Mauriene Tolentino

Member of the Board

Pronouns: They/Them, She/Her

Bio

Mauriene Tolentino is a queer treaty person, community organizer and health policy researcher in Tkaronto/Treaty 13 (Toronto) with roots originating from Mindanaoan and Visayan islands of the Philippines. Currently a Policy and Research Analyst at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Mauriene holds a Masters of Public Health degree at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (University of Toronto) with a specialization in Women and Gender Studies and Public Health Policy. With intentions rooted in social justice, health equity and queer liberation, Mauriene works to use her research and public health background to work towards improving the well-being of marginalized and underprivileged populations in Canada. Mauriene centers decolonization and collective care as an active leader and community member supporting a few organizations and initiatives, including Makulay at iba pa, Kapit Bisig (mutual aid group for migrant Filipinos), and the Filipino Youth Fellowship Steering Committee as a volunteer Co-chair. Away from her virtual workspace, Mauriene enjoys tending to what she calls her apocalypse vegetable and flower garden.

Natalie Miller

Member of the Board

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Natalie Miller is completing her JD at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. At UofT, Natalie is co-president of Out in Law and an enthusiastic volunteer for Pro-Bono Students Canada. Natalie has also enjoyed volunteering for the International Human Rights Program’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Working Group and as the Submissions Manager for the Indigenous Law Journal. Over the past year, Natalie has worked as a tenant housing Caseworker at Downtown Legal Services and spent her second-year summer working at Torys LLP. Prior to law school Natalie earned an HBA at Western University where she focused her studies on non-profit organizations, social enterprise, and corporate-social responsibility. During her summers, Natalie worked for a non-profit organization, a charity law firm, and in the corporate social responsibility department of a Toronto-based company. Outside of school, Natalie enjoyed serving as the President of Amnesty International at Western and taking weekly shifts at Western’s Peer Support Centre. For fun, Natalie enjoys spending time outdoors camping, hiking, and skiing, and listening to live music.

Min Oh

Member of the Board

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Min Oh received her J.D. degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. At UofT, Min served as the Operations Lead for the UofT Legal Hackers Group, a member of the International Human Rights Program’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Working Group, Senior Executive of Business Law Society, Legal Clinic Assistant at The 519 Legal Clinic and a Senior Editor for the Critical Analysis of Law Review. She has particularly enjoyed working as a research assistant to Assistant Dean Christopher Essert, during which she primarily researched zoning issues and legal safeguards against homelessness.

Asides from her academic endeavours, Min has worked at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP as a student. Prior to law school, Min has earned an M.Sc. in Interdisciplinary Oncology and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on lung cancer. She has also enjoyed her time volunteering and working with the Canucks Autism Network, where she taught sports and social skills to children and youth living with autism. Out of school, Min enjoys spending time practicing Muay Thai, hiking, and making music.

Aaron Hewitt

Member of the Board

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Aaron is a frontline healthcare worker, educator, and passionate member of Toronto’s vibrant queer community. He has worked in different capacities over the years to promote Accessibility and community engagement.

A full-time student studying Healthcare Administration, he looks forward to applying his leadership skills and working with community members to continue the amazing legacy of The 519.

Chris Moise

City Councillor, Ward 13

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Chris Moise (he/him) was elected the City Councillor for Ward 13 – Toronto Centre on October 24, 2022. Chris is the first Black and openly gay Toronto City Councillor, and chairs the 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, Indigenous Affairs Advisory Committee, and the Board of Health. Chris has spent over two decades living and working throughout communities in Ward 13 and is committed to improving safety, transit, housing affordability and social services while fostering equity, fairness and inclusion in all aspects of city life.

Chris has a depth of knowledge about how social services and education can make the most powerful impacts in peoples’ lives and he is committed to ensuring positive outcomes for everyone in his communities. Chris has served as a Toronto District School Board Trustee for six years and an addictions counsellor at St. Michael’s Hospital for 22 years, he brings his lived experiences and considers the impact on the most vulnerable members of the community. Chris is honoured to have been elected to serve Toronto Centre and he is committed to making Toronto more liveable.

Contact Chris Moise