Board of Directors

Donna Babbs, President & Secretary, is a family law lawyer who has volunteered with Luke’s Place for the better part of two decades, including as a core visionary and partner in developing the initial stages of Luke’s Place. Donna was a founding member of the Luke’s Place Legal Advisory Group, a co-creator of our first funding proposal to the Law Foundation of Ontario, and a volunteer lawyer in our Pro Bono summary advice clinics.

Kimberley Gavan, Vice President, is a long-time advocate in the inclusion movement. Currently, Kim serves as the Executive Director of the Brockville and District Association for Community Involvement. She also has an extensive history and involvement with both Community Living Ontario and Inclusion Canada, which are the Provincial and National bodies of Community Living, a federation of 300 local and 13 Provincial/Territorial Associations working on behalf of approximately 1 million Canadians with a developmental disability and their families. Kim largely spends her free time commuting back and forth each weekend to the GTA, where she enjoys her family and love of sailing.

Jill D'Souza, Treasurer, Jill is a senior finance professional offering 20+ years of experience.  Her experience is in financial planning, analysis, and accounting in diverse industries, including hospitality, real estate, retail and service industries.  She is a recognized leader and trusted business advisor that supports strategic analysis and decision making.

Ruth Chun, Director, Ruth is a corporate commercial lawyer who advises public and private companies, with expertise in advising regulated industries including cannabis, CPG and renewable energy. She is regularly called upon as a speaker, industry expert and guest lecturer at various colleges and universities and is on the advisory board of the Osgoode Professional Development Certificate in Cannabis Law and Regulation. She is also a contributing editor to Canada’s Cannabis Act: textbook. She serves on numerous corporate boards and is the chairman of Slang Worldwide Inc. (CSE: SLNG). She is called to the bar in Ontario, New York and Namibia.

Nada Johnson, Director, As a dedicated non-profit board director with experience in board governance and the operations of non-profit boards, Nada brings a unique blend of skills to Luke's Place. Nada’s background as a social worker equips her with valuable expertise in supporting women and their families affected by violence, allowing her to advocate for their safety and well-being. By combining her insights from both non-profit leadership and social work, she effectively contributes to the mission of Luke's Place ensuring that our strategies not only empower those we serve but also strengthen our overall governance and impact. 

Lais Gomes, Director, Born and raised in Brazil’s Amazon region, Lais immigrated to Canada in 2019 with a commitment to justice shaped by over 8 years of legal and policy experience across two continents. Lais is currently completing a Master of Laws at the University of Toronto. As a Researcher at the Senate of Canada, she contributes to legislative reform on gender-based violence, including efforts to recognize femicide as a distinct offence in the Criminal Code. Lais brings a global, lived and intersectional perspective to advancing women’s rights and inclusive legal reform. Outside of work, she enjoys playing volleyball, discovering new cafés, and exploring Canada on road trips.