Executive staff members

(she/her/elle)
Acting President and CEO

Janet has worked at Legal Aid Ontario for over 20 years, developing her skills in a number of roles including staff lawyer with the Quality Assurance program, team lead of the Clinic Services Office, regional business manager of Central and Eastern Region and vice president of Southwest Region and Specialty Clinics. Before joining the organization she worked as a staff lawyer at the ARCH Disability Law Centre. She studied at Princeton University and earned her LLB at Queens University.

(She/her/elle)

Vice President, Corporate Services & Chief Administrative Officer

Abby joined LAO in 2023 after many years in a variety of leadership roles with the Ontario public service, including positions at the Ministries of Transportation and Education. She most recently served as Director of the Funding and Programs Branch with the Ministry of Long Term Care. In this role, Abby provided oversight of billions in operating dollars for critical funding programs to long-term care homes and the broader sector. She brings to LAO extensive experience working in complex political environments, building collaborative relationships to achieve results, and championing mentorship, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.

(he/him/il)
Acting vice president, Operations

Vadim joined LAO in 2015 as Director of the Audit and Compliance Services Branch with extensive experience in the Ontario Public Service. He has worked in various managerial roles across several ministries in the areas of finance and corporate services, strategic policy, information technology and program oversight. At LAO, Vadim oversees the Central Operations and Client Experience department, the Centralized Services department, the Roster Management department, the Clinic Resource Office, the Multiple Languages Services department and LAO LAW. Leading the Operations division, he provides oversight of several key LAO strategic initiatives with a keen focus on client service and staff engagement. .

Vadim holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Stockholm.

(she/her/elle)
Vice President (Acting), Regional Services Division

In more than 20 years since she joined Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) in 2003, Kaitlyn McCabe has served in a wide variety of leadership positions. As the Vice President (Acting), Regional Services Division, Kaitlyn oversees and supports the work of LAO staff across the province. Prior to becoming VP, Kaitlyn was Director General of LAO’s West District from 2015 to 2024.

Kaitlyn first joined LAO as Supervisory Duty Counsel and Manager of Legal Services in 2003. She previously practised family law at Wilson Walker Hochberg Slopen LLP in Windsor from 1994 to 1999 and at Renaud Campbell from 1999 to 2003. During those years, she also served on the Ontario Office of the Children’s Lawyer Panel. Kaitlyn is currently Co-President of the AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts) in Ontario and is a previous member of the Child Abuse Prevention Council. She was called to the bar in 1996 and is a graduate of the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, where she has taught child protection law and served as a mediation team coach.

(She/her/elle)
Vice president, Strategy and Public Affairs

Aileen joined LAO in 2012 as Senior Counsel, General Counsel Office and in 2019 became Director of Litigation. A skilled strategic leader and member of LAO’s executive team, Aileen has led  numerous complex files at LAO, most recently, the creation of the Legal Aid Services Rules and associated policy framework. Aileen has extensive experience in stakeholder and government relations, both from her time at LAO and as a Senior Policy Advisor to two Attorneys General of Ontario. From 1996 to 2009, Aileen was a trial lawyer in the U.S., first trying serious felony cases as an Assistant District Attorney and, later, trying complex civil cases in state and federal courts in a number of jurisdictions. Aileen also served as a mediator and as a magistrate judge, presiding over a wide range of criminal and civil matters, including bail and preliminary hearings.

(he/him/il)
Vice President, Clinic Law Services

Rod has spent most of his career at Legal Aid Ontario, serving in a variety of roles over the past 27 years. As manager of Business Analysis, he helped develop detailed business cases to secure funding in support of the delivery of legal aid services across the province. During his tenure as director of Policy, he worked on LAO’s vulnerable client strategies and led the restructuring of the board advisory committees to engage external stakeholders in providing expert advice to LAO’s board of directors. He was director of Business Intelligence and Statistics from 2012 to 2016 and served as acting vice president of Strategic Planning and Compliance from 2016 to 2018, establishing enterprise risk management processes and building relationships with LAO’s external partners.