Legal team size: four

What projects are you most proud to have worked on over the past 12 months?

Over the past twelve months, one of the projects I am most proud of involved leading through a significant organisational challenge that required the activation of our crisis management team.
In a high-pressure environment, I was able to provide calm, thoughtful leadership and contribute meaningfully to successful outcomes. I am proud of how quickly I assessed the situation, collaborated with the business to understand the desired outcome, and executed with both efficiency and precision.

This experience reinforced the value of legal leadership in navigating complex, time-sensitive issues and demonstrated my ability to provide stability and clear direction during times of uncertainty.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

Throughout my legal career, I have had the privilege of being part of several unique and meaningful experiences.

As a legal executive, one standout moment was being elected to the board of Connect First Credit Union. During my tenure, it underwent the largest amalgamation of credit unions in Canadian history, resulting in what is now Canada’s largest credit union, Servus Credit Union. Being directly involved in the governance and decision-making of such a landmark transaction was a significant professional milestone and a rare opportunity to help shape the future of cooperative financial services in Canada.

Another defining experience was leading through the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many, I found it an unprecedented challenge, but serving as an executive leader during that time required rapid decision-making, constant adaptation, and close collaboration with all levels of government. Our team worked diligently to establish our business as an essential service, ensuring we could continue providing critical financial and tax services to Canadians despite evolving shutdown regulations. It was a true test of resilience, agility and leadership.

How does your team contribute to the overall business strategy of the company?

Our legal team plays a critical role in driving the company’s business strategy through our department vision: Trusted Advisor, Business Enabler, and Key Influencer of Change.
As trusted advisors, we aim to instil confidence across all business areas by providing knowledgeable, balanced and risk-based guidance. Our approach ensures that teams feel supported and empowered to make informed decisions that align with both their departmental goals and the company’s broader objectives.

As business enablers, we partner early and often with the business units to understand their unique challenges and help turn these into opportunities. By embedding ourselves in the business, we ensure Legal is not a checkpoint but a strategic partner in achieving desired outcomes while mitigating risk.

As key influencers of change, we actively engage in government relations to shape policy in ways that support our strategic direction. Our deep understanding of the competitive landscape and internal priorities allows us to advise on and influence the company’s strategic initiatives with agility and foresight.