Judith D’Souza Soares

DIRECTOR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Judith D’Souza Soares

"My childhood dream was to be a lawyer and fight for equity and justice."

Judith D’Souza Soares

Three words that best describe her

Determined, conscientious, fair

What's her life's work?

Judith is a lifelong learner who embodies “education is power” through her own fervent commitment to self-learning and teaching others both in her professional and personal life. Leading with purpose and ensuring that all persons have equal access to opportunities and resources is extremely important to her. She brings over twenty years of direct administrative law and policy expertise in both the public and non-profit sectors and seven years of teaching experience at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.

Social activism and the pursuit of equality, fairness, and justice, especially for women and girls, has always been at the cornerstone of her community involvement which included serving as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Women’s Support Network of York Region, and Co-Chair of the National Education Program Committee for the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF).

What academic work set her up for success?

Judith holds two Masters degrees. The first is a Master in Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) and more recently a Global Professional Master of Laws (GPLLM). In addition, she holds post-graduate certificates in Strategic Leadership, Dispute Resolution, and Project Management, as well as being a certified Law Clerk and Paralegal. She most recently completed a MBA program at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

Interesting tidbit

During the pandemic, since Judith was unable to physically travel to new and interesting locales, she became creative and signed up for virtual challenges that allowed her to complete the Camino de Santiago in Spain, St. Francis Way in Italy, hike up both Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro, and cross continents and countries including: South Africa, Russia, Australia, China, Spain, United Kingdom, France, and Iceland. Now that she is able to travel again, she hopes to visit the destinations and take pictures with the medals she earned from the virtual challenges.

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