Board of Directors

Aparna Dixit, Past-President, has been working in the social services field for 7 years and in the volunteer sector for 10 years. Aparna is passionate about social justice and is seeking ways to contribute to her community while expanding her knowledge base. Aparna joined the board of Luke’s Place in June 2016.

Frances Wood, President, was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1998 after obtaining a law degree at the University of Edinburgh and a further LLB at the University of New Brunswick.  She has practiced family law since 2000 and has been in partnership with Jennifer Gold since 2008.  By entering into partnership, Frances Wood and Jennifer Gold, sought to create an alternative to the traditional law firm and thereby achieve work-life balance and a diverse workplace.

Mazie MacDonald, Treasurer, has over 20 years of experience in the Banking Industry. The focus of Mazie’s career has been as a Corporate and Commercial Banker. She holds an MBA from York University and a CPA from Ontario. Mazie enjoys zumba and going to the gym in her spare time.

Donna Babbs, 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 the development of 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, Director, 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 who 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.

Rebecca Boyd, Director, Rebecca has served as a police officer in the GTA for nearly 20 years. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts with Trent University and is a certified Canadian Risk Manager with the Global Risk Management Institute through the University of Toronto.  Rebecca is passionate about women’s and girls’ rights, and among her list of volunteer experience, was previously heavily involved with Girls Inc. of York Region. She lives in Oshawa with her daughter Andi, and her dog Andy.

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.  

Courtney Sebu, Director, Courtney has 20+ years of experience in Human Resources, spanning a variety of industries.  Much of Courtney’s career has been spent delivering results for clients in a senior leadership role on a contract basis, through her independent human resources consulting firm Shastra Inc. Courtney is known for effectively partnering with clients and stakeholders, developing innovative solutions, improving employee engagement, implementing process efficiencies, and fostering honest dialogue. Courtney’s success derives from a passion for employee engagement, a hands-on approach, and an unwavering dedication to delivering best practices and standards in Human Resources Management.