Board & Staff

About the Board

The Foundation’s Board of Directors is made up of ten people appointed under The Legal Profession Act. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General for the Province selects five directors, including the Chair and Vice-Chair. The Benchers of The Law Society of Manitoba select three directors, and the President of the Manitoba Branch of the Canadian Bar Association selects one director. The tenth director is either the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba or someone selected by the Dean. Directors serve for two to four years, but they remain directors until they resign or are replaced. 

The Board meets regularly (at least four times each year) to oversee the Foundation’s operations, develop and set strategic priorities, and decide on grant applications and policy matters.

Current Board members (with date of first appointment)

Appointed by the Minister of Justice:

• Irene Merie, Vice-Chairperson (2021)
• Melanie Beaudry (2021)
• Laurelle Harris, K.C. (2022)
• Ian Scarth (2021)

Appointed by the Law Society of Manitoba:

• Yasothini Mathu (2022)
• Sharyne Hamm (2024)
• Wayne Onchulenko (2024)

Appointed by the Canadian Bar Association (Manitoba Branch)

• Candray Mehkary (2023)

Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba

• Dean Richard Jochelson (2021)