Prior to private practice, I was a Refugee Protection Officer under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. As an Officer, I made administrative decisions and recommendations under the Act. It also gave me great experience in cross and direct examination and questioning of the claimant and witnesses and providing submissions to the Presiding Member. I have experience in over 200 hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1995 from the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta where I was on the Dean's List. I have been a member of the Alberta Law Society for over 10 years. My legal experience began with articles at one of the top criminal law firms in Alberta.

I have appeared before all levels of Alberta Courts, including Provincial Court, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and the Alberta Court of Appeal. I have gained extensive experience in the preparation and presentation of legal cases before the Courts of Alberta.

In August of 2002 I joined the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) as a Refugee Protection Officer working within Canada’s refugee determination system. I worked at the IRB for approximately 3 years during which time I gained in depth experience and knowledge in the areas of administrative law and refugee determination. As a representative of the IRB I appeared in hundreds of hearings before the IRB.

I was born in South Africa and attained my Master of Laws degree at the University of South Africa, after being awarded the LL B and B Juris degrees at the North West University (previously University of Potchefstroom), South Africa. I moved to Canada in 1995, spending time in Manitoba prior to settling in Calgary in 1999. I became a Canadian Citizen in 2000.

I have been admitted as a Lawyer in South Africa and to the Bar in Manitoba and Alberta. I am a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Immigration Section of the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, the Calgary Bar Association.

I have practised Immigration Law since 1997 and have appeared before all three divisions of the Immigration Refugee Board, and have successfully argued judicial review applications in front of the Federal Court.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (First Class Honours) from the University of Calgary and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 2002. I worked at the Alberta Law Reform Institute, completed my Articles of Clerkship with a well respected law firm in Calgary, and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2003.

For the last eight years I have practiced primarily in the areas of immigration law and civil litigation. I have appeared before various Courts and Tribunals, including the Provincial Court, the Court of Queen’s Bench, Federal Court, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration and Refugee Board. I have written numerous Federal Court arguments and trial briefs.

While practicing law, I also taught law related courses at Bow Valley College. My volunteer history includes participating on the Calgary executive of the Immigration and Citizenship subsection for the Canadian Bar Association and providing legal clinics at the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association. I have served on the Board of Directors of Immigrant Services Calgary since 2004 and was elected Vice-Chair in 2010.

Working with people from diverse backgrounds has been a privilege. I am committed to excellent quality legal representation and have many years of experience helping clients navigate their way through complex legal and administrative systems.