About

About

As a publicly funded, non-profit organization, we provide affordable legal services in family law, domestic violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defence.

Vision

An Alberta where everyone is able to understand and protect their legal rights.

Mission

We resolve legal problems for disadvantaged Albertans and, in doing so, protect the Rule of Law for the benefit of everyone.

Governance

As a registered society incorporated under the provincial Societies Act, Legal Aid Alberta is an organization independent from government, but is accountable to the Minister of Justice and to the Law Society of Alberta.

Governance Agreement 2025-2030

Continuing our commitment to Albertans

View the Strategic Plan
Download the PDF

Values

Our organization strives to always focus on what matters, to stay true to our values in everything we do. These values are the underpinning of our organization, reflecting on what is truly important to us and guide us in the decisions we make every day.

We Are One

We work together in a collaborative and supportive manner to deliver unwavering and innovative services to our clients as one unified organization.

We Are Protectors

We serve Albertans, often the most vulnerable of us, and work tirelessly to protect their rights and to ensure a fair process.

We Are Exceptional

We are experts at what we do and we continually strive for improvement.

We Are Independent

We operate and provide legal counsel free from outside involvement.

MORE REPORTS AND POLICIES

Strategic Plan 2026-29

Indigenous Action Plan 2025-2028

Legal Aid Alberta Overview

Annual Report 2024-25

Executive Team

Our executive team is responsible for strategic and business planning and ensuring that LAA delivers crucial legal services to Albertans while operating within the Governance Agreement. They – along with all of LAA’s dedicated team members – strive to achieve our vision of an Alberta where everyone is able to understand and protect their legal rights.

Legal Aid Alberta CEO and President John Panusa sitting in a red chair smiling at the camera

Gianpaolo (John) Panusa, KC

President and Chief Executive Officer

Lori Haughian

Vice President, Justice Services

 

Laurie Wang

Vice President, People, Corporate Strategy and Engagement

Dale Burgess

Executive Director, Finance

Johnathan McFarlane

Executive Director, Information Technology

Man in suit sitting in office

Greg Lazin

General Counsel

Board of Directors

Legal Aid Alberta is governed and guided by a carefully chosen board of directors. The board makes decisions that are carried out by our executive and management teams.

The Board can consist of up to 11 members – with at least four members of the Law Society and three public directors.

Brad Pickering

Chair

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2016

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2021 and Chair in 2025

Brad is a retired Government of Alberta Deputy Minister, having served 17 years in various senior leadership roles as Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs, Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Agency, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Deputy Solicitor General/Deputy Minister Public Security, and Deputy Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Prior to joining the Government of Alberta, Brad spent 20 years in the municipal government sector.

David Linder, KC

Vice Chair

Calgary, Alberta

Director Since 2022

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2022

David recently retired from the Alberta Securities Commission after having served over 25 years as its executive director. During his tenure at the Commission, David also was heavily involved in the executive committees of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the umbrella organization of Canada’s provincial and territorial securities regulators whose objective is to improve, coordinate and harmonize regulation of the Canadian capital markets.

Prior to joining the Commission, David was a partner with the law firm of Parlee McLaws in Calgary. David has taught Business Law at the University of Calgary and chaired the fundraising committee of the U of C’s Faculty of Law Alumni in its initial campaign.

Catherine Braeuer

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2021

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2021

Catherine is a CPA, CA whose career has focused on finance, technology and corporate governance consulting for a variety of organizations including publicly funded health care, education, children’s aid and legal aid entities. She currently leads the Global Financial Reporting Transformation Team for Finning International.

Jim Campbell

Board Member

Calgary, Alberta

Director Since 2022

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2022

Jim is an MBA whose career has focused on external affairs. He is a senior business executive with more than 25 years of government, Indigenous and public affairs experience in diverse industries, including forestry, mining, telecommunications, and oil and gas. Jim also served as the executive director of one of Alberta’s political parties. Jim’s volunteer experience includes service on the boards of Mount Royal University, the Edmonton and Calgary public libraries, and the Edmonton Art Gallery. Jim completed his Commerce degree at the University of Alberta and earned his MBA from the University of Calgary.

Randy Mitchell

Board Member

High River, Alberta

Director Since 2022

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2022

Randy is a Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution group at McLeod Law LLP. Randy practices in a wide variety of areas in all levels of courts of Alberta, including employment disputes, shareholder disputes and urban and rural lease and property disputes. Randy also participates in a variety of pro bono and access to justice initiatives in Alberta.

Sonya von Heyking

Board Member

Lethbridge, Alberta

Director Since 2022

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2022

Sonya brings 20 years of organizational governance experience from a variety of senior internal and external board perspectives. She is the Assistant Dean, Strategic Initiatives with the University of Lethbridge’s Dhillon School of Business and teaches in the accounting program. Sonya is also a board director at CPA Alberta and Treasurer and Chair, Finance and Audit Committee at CanadaHelps. Sonya holds the CPA, CA, ICD.D, and CIA designations, as well as certifications in risk management and internal controls from the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Amber-Dawn Boudreau

Board Member

Calgary, Alberta

Director Since 2023

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2023

 

Amber-Dawn is an accomplished engagement and commercial lending executive who leads with integrity, inclusivity and a demonstrated history of fostering relationships with Indigenous communities, industry stakeholders and government.

 

Amber is Director of Indigenous Relations at Hydro One responsible for Lifecycle Engagement, the Indigenous Relations program and the Indigenous Relations strategy.

Before joining Hydro One, Amber held the positions of Vice President, Engagement at the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, Interim Team Lead and Senior Manager for CIBC’s Commercial Banking Indigenous Markets Team.

 

She is a proud member of the Red Rock Indian Band in Northwestern Ontario and currently lives in Calgary, Alberta with her husband and three children.

Daniela O'Callaghan

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2023

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2023

 

Called to the Alberta bar in 2011, Daniela is an Edmonton-area lawyer and a Senior Managing Counsel at EPCOR Utilities Inc., where she is the Compliance Officer, Privacy Officer and advises a number of businesses within the EPCOR group of companies in Canada.

 

Daniela’s volunteer experience includes service as the Chair of the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission and currently as a board member of the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers.

Roseanne Carey

Board Member

Edmonton, Alberta

Director Since 2025

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2025

 

Roseanne Carey is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) who has spent most of her career providing strategic and advisory support to business clients. She is currently Chief Financial Officer at the University Hospital Foundation, where her portfolio extends beyond traditional finance to include driving impact in the life sciences sector as a catalyst for innovation in health and health care.

 

Previously, Roseanne operated her own consultancy, serving clients across technology, financial services, real estate, benefits, and not-for-profit sectors. She holds the ICD.D designation and served as Vice Chair and Chair of the Finance Committee for the Mental Health Foundation.

Clint Warkentin

Board Member

Calgary, Alberta

Director Since 2025

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2025

 

As an accomplished C-suite executive, Clint has spent over two decades guiding strategy and execution across publicly traded regulated utilities, private equity-backed energy companies, and global corporate environments. Prior to his executive experience, Clint was a corporate and investment banker.

 

Clint’s board experience spans various international and subsidiary corporate boards, as well as non-profit organizations, including serving as an Audit Committee Chair. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), a CFA Charter holder, and holds the ICD.D designation. He earned his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan and completed the Ivey Executive Program.

Tamar Epstein

Board Member

Calgary, Alberta

Director Since 2025

Membership Status: Joined the LAA Board in 2025

 

Tamar is General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Vermilion Energy and brings more than twenty years of experience in legal practice and governance to Legal Aid Alberta. Her career includes extensive experience as in-house counsel and executive leadership roles, complemented by sustained involvement in community service and board governance.

 

Tamar currently serves on the boards of Calgary Economic Development and the PREP Society, contributes to the advisory committee at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and is active with the International Bar Association. She has also taught law-based courses at SAIT, Mount Royal University and has instructed with the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED). Tamar remains committed to continuous learning, mentorship, principled oversight, and strengthening access to essential legal services across Alberta.

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