Kwame Addo, Interim Ombudsman, was appointed in November 2015 by Toronto City Council. He has been with the office since February 2009, as the Director, Investigations & Conflict Resolution, responsible for managing the staff handling complaints received from the public about the administration of the City government.
Prior to coming to the City, Mr. Addo worked as an investigator with the provincial Ombudsman's office, spending his last three and half years as a member of the Special Ombudsman Response Team (SORT). While with SORT, he led a number of systemic investigations, including the Special Investigations Unit and Newborn Screening.
Mr. Addo is a Board member with the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators and sits on its Education sub-committee. He has also been involved with the Osgoode/Forum of Canadian Ombudsman Essentials course, as one of its lecturers for the certificate program.
Amanjit Brar, Acting Director of Investigations, most recently served as Legal Counsel to the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman, and as part of a small legal services team, provided critical support to the Ombudsman and to office operations. He was responsible for a range of legal services, including providing strategic legal advice, assisting in the conduct of investigations, and representing the Office in litigation. Prior to engaging with the Ontario Ombudsman's office, Amanjit founded a small boutique firm in the City of Mississauga and practiced law with an emphasis in criminal and civil litigation. Amanjit also has considerable experience in complicated medical malpractice and obstetrical negligence cases. Committed to fairness, truth and accountability, he volunteers his time to serve as a member of the Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Jackie Correia, Ombudsman Representative, began her career in the photocopy room at Ontario’s Ombudsman Office where she built her knowledge of record keeping standards and became a Records Archive Technician. She was on the Records Council, helping to establish the first electronic guidelines for the Ontario Public Service. She also worked as a Client Access Representative.
Zalina Deodat, Ombudsman Representative, has extensive experience in complaints resolution in a variety of intake roles, including the management of a complaints call centre in 2005-2006. She has worked at the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Criminal Inquiries Compensation Board.
Lauren Hollywood, Administrative Assistant, worked as the City's Integrity Commissioner's Administrative Assistant and prior to that she was an Executive Assistant to a partner of a Toronto immigration law firm.
April Lim, Research and Policy Consultant, brings extensive experience in public sector policy evaluation and trends analysis. April's background is in Social Work where she specialized in research, policy, and statistical data analysis. She has worked for the Ontario Government, United Way Toronto and the City of Toronto in various capacities doing research, evaluation, policy analysis and project management work.
Kate Zavitz, Ombudsman Investigator, brings investigation and conflict resolution skills from her legal work and academic training. Kate represented low-income, injured workers as a legal aid clinic lawyer and worked in private practice with a focus on labour and employment law. She has degrees in psychology, social justice and equity studies.
Reema Patel, Ombudsman Investigator, is a lawyer by training with a degree in political science and international development. Reema has worked in Mumbai in human rights law, with a focus on street youth and most recently, she worked at the Ontario Ombudsman's office.
Adam Orfanakos, Ombudsman Investigator, has a degree in criminal justice and public policy and a masters in critical disability studies. He is a mediator and trained in conflict resolution. Adam has conducted Ombudsman investigations for more than eight years. He has done major systemic investigations at the Ontario Ombudsman's Office, including the Ontario Provincial Police, Local Health Integration Networks, services for adults with developmental disabilities, and police de-escalation training. Adam has also been involved in a variety of volunteer roles, including assisting job seekers with disabilities, social media outreach for charity, and food security programs.
Luke Brown, Ombudsman Investigator, is a lawyer by training with a degree in biochemical engineering. He has represented low income clients at a Toronto community legal clinic, and has engaged in state accountability and good governance work in West Africa, the Philippines, and in Ontario with the Ontario Ombudsman's Office.
Meredith Gayda, Ombudsman Investigator, brings her legal background to the Ombudsman's office, with experience practicing municipal labour and employment law. She also previously advocated for immigration and refugee clients at a community legal aid clinic. In addition to law, she holds a degree in English literature.
Follow @TO_Ombuds