Women in Leadership Panel

Alisha Kang
National President, UNE

After a brief career in the private sector, she joined the Public Service in 2003 at the Fortress of Louisbourg, a Parks Canada site in Nova Scotia. She also worked at a Crown Corporation, the Canadian Museum of History, in Ottawa, Ontario.

She has been fighting for all our inclusion in the workplace, in our communities, and across the country, and to effect eventual changes in Canadian history.

Since 2008, she’s published over 14 works of fiction. In 2012, she co-founded, wrote the policies and bylaws, and was elected the first president of a writers’ association chapter in Texas to give some representation to marginalized voices and advocate for change in the industry.

She then set her gaze on supporting her union family. Elected to the Collective Agreement Negotiation Team of her employer in 2021 as a virtually unknown activist in the union sphere. She was increasingly called upon by members. Quickly, she was known for her tenacity and was elected a UNE 2SLGBTQ2+ Human Rights Delegate in 2022.

As she continued applying her previously gained leadership skills, she was elected Vice President of Local 70501 in the National Capital Region and Co-Chair of the Bylaws and Constitution Committee 2023. In August 2023, she became the President of UNE with over 27,000 members coast to coast and 73 employers.

As a single parent, she is most proud of her 21-year-old son Kael, a budding activist studying Law, and her 26-year-old daughter Kyrro, a scientist on the Autism spectrum.

Sharon DeSousa
National President, PSAC

Sharon DeSousa was elected as the national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada at PSAC’s 20th National Triennial Convention in May 2024. She previously served as PSAC’s national executive vice-president, a position she held since 2020.

Sharon DeSousa has broken barriers at every stage of her activism – becoming the first racialized woman in PSAC’s history to serve as both National President and National Executive Vice-President. Previously, she became the first racialized woman to serve on PSAC’s Alliance Executive Committee when she was elected Regional Executive Vice-President for Ontario in 2011.

Sharon’s ongoing leadership and relentless pursuit of justice, underscores her commitment to fostering an equitable, inclusive labour movement and bettering conditions for all workers.

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Sharon came to Canada at the age of five. After earning a bachelor of fine arts from the Ontario College of Art & Design University, Sharon worked as a benefits officer with Service Canada, and served as Vice-President of equity for her local, Canada Employment and Immigration Union Local 00648.

Ruth Lau McDonald
Regional Executive Vice President, National Capital Region, PSAC

Ruth Lau MacDonald became PSAC’s Regional Executive Vice President for the National Capital Region in May 2024.

Ruth comes from a multi-generation military family and was born in Germany while her parents were posted to CFB Baden–Soellingen. With relatively few postings, her family spent most of her life on bases in south-eastern Ontario, but Ruth has always called Ottawa home.

Ruth has always had a keen sense of justice and has channeled that into her activism in all areas of her life. Her identity as a queer woman with an invisible disability frames her worldview and her work prioritizes inclusion, creative problem solving, accountability and transparency. She has been involved in many organizations, including elected positions with la Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne and the Carleton University Students’ Association.

Ruth is a settler with family connections to Cape Breton (Mi’gma’gi), Edmunston (Wəlastəkwey), Germany and Lebanon. In her career she has had the privilege of contributing to work that seeks to bring reconciliation into action via the implementation of modern treaties and self-government agreements.

Ruth Lau MacDonald is the youngest woman in the union’s history to serve on PSAC’s National Board of Directors.

Heather Brooker
Political Advisor, UNE

Heather Brooker is a strong leader, a tireless worker and an activist fully committed to equality and social justice. She is proud to be life-time member of the Union of National Employees and an APSAR (Association of Public Service Alliance Retirees) member of the PSAC.

In 2002, Heather Brooker was the first woman National President of the National Component and was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term in 2005. She has a long history within the PSAC during which time she has held numerous positions, from Local shop steward to the PSAC’s National Board of Directors.

Heather spent her formative years in Gold River, Nova Scotia where she and her husband have retired since 2016. Her work with Global Affairs Canada has taken her around the world – from Cuba to Israel to Washington, DC, USA, to Zimbabwe to Romania to back again to Israel and finally to Russia - and her union activism has been just as varied.

Heather served as Director, Countries Outside Canada on the PSAC’s National Board of Directors. She was also a PSAC representative on the Pay Equity Study which ultimately led to the largest ever pay equity payout.

In 1991 as President of Local Z0250 Washington, DC, Heather organized a picket line, elevating that PSAC National Strike to an international level. Heather has served as an Equal Opportunities (EO) Component committee member, is an alumnus of the Labour College of Canada, and in 1991 was the PSAC representative on the Governor General’s Canadian Study Tour.

Heather held both positions of Assistant and Regional Vice-President, Outside Canada. Heather has also served as the Alternate, National Executive Vice-President, PSAC.

Black Women & Leadership

Bernadeth Betchi
Coordinator, Office of the National President, UNE

Bernadeth is a human, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a partner and a human rights activist.

She is a Black woman, an immigrant, a francophone and an artist.

She has worked at the Prime Minister of Canada’s Office, at the Canadian Human Rights Commission and as a Professor of Communications, English, Human Rights, Social Justice and Sociology at Algonquin and St-Lawrence College.

She is also one of the twelve representative plaintiffs for the Black Class Action Suit. She appeared in the Senate of Canada as an expert for the study on anti-Black discrimination and racism at the Canadian Human Rights Commission and has been an active advocate for the rights of humans as a whole.

She believes in the power of ubuntu “humanity”. “I am because we are”. Ubuntu embodies the ideas of community, shared humanity, and mutual caring for all. It is a philosophy that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all people, the importance of relationships, and the responsibility of individuals to their community.

Bernadeth understands that her mission on this earth is to leave a better blueprint for the generations to come. Hoping that her actions and activism bring lasting and significant change forever to come. She wants to make sure that all of her encounters leave the person better than the way she found them. Her guiding principles are love, empathy and compassion.

She is doing this work standing on the shoulders of her ancestors.

Jennie Esnard

Jennie is a long time activist for equality. As a woman who is determined to equal the playing field for all. Jennie is constantly encouraging our newest members to join our movement. So many voices have been silenced for far too long we need to motivate and uplift each other. Creating a space safe for all is paramount.

• Long serving member of PIPSC
• Past Chair of HRDC Committee - PIPSC
• Chief Steward for NCR
• Nuclear Regulatory Group President - PIPSC
• Chief Steward for NUREG
• Former member of the PIPSC Board of Directors
• Professional Actor 58 years. Member of ACTRA and SAG AFTRA UDA
• Honour with the City of Ottawa Builder Award for the advancement of Women in Sport
• City of Toronto Bob Marley Day award – Activism for the Black Community
• Mulitple holder of Canadian Touch Football Championships
• University of South Caroline Alum Bachelor of Honours Human Rights
• University of Ottawa Alum Bachelor in Political Science
• Masters in Law

Guest Speakers

Chris Bruckert
Full Professor, Criminology
University of Ottawa

Chris Bruckert is full professor in the department of criminology at the University of Ottawa. Her current research deploys a gendered intersectional lens to examine harassment and violence against educators. She is the principle investigator on a SSHRC-funded project entitled “Workplace Violence and Elementary School Educators in Ontario.”

Over the past 20 years she has devoted much of her energy to examining diverse sectors of the sex industry; to that end she has undertaken qualitative research into street-based sex work, erotic dance, the in-call sector, escorts, clients, male sex workers and trafficking.

She continues to research in this area.

Ruby Langan
Regional Representative for Human Rights, BC & Yukon

I am an Indigenous woman from the plains of Saskatchewan, where the buffalo again roam. I’m grateful that my First Nation community was gifted 22 buffalo, which is why I often mention this when introducing myself. I am grateful for the support that my union gives me as I learn about my culture and grow as an adult, with the aim of sharing and speaking on equity issues as a human rights representative. I am grateful for the elders who have shared their teachings. I am grateful for my health, my kids, the love of my kids and for finally having my dream job and being part of a happy work team. I smile and laugh more than I used to. I sure need my health to be helpful to my fellow union members at the workplace. There is much work to be done for equity in the workplace and outside of it. It is my passion.

Chi-miigwetch

Trey Anthony

Trey Anthony is a visionary creator who uses the unique blend of comedy, theater, motivational talk, and her own life experiences to inspire and lift up others.

She is a professional speaker, lifestyle coach, producer, author, and award-winning playwright, but she’s also “your girl” who tells it how it is. Through art, humour, and the power of a clear message, she’s here to give Black women the no-nonsense tools to take control of their lives and thrive!

Mel Lucier

Mel Lucier is from Windsor, Ontario.

She is a proud union sister from the Union of Taxation Employees and a staunch outspoken advocate for many who face adversity.

Mel’s union resume includes President’s representative on the National Equal Opportunities Committee as well as the LGBTQIS+ representative numerous times. She was a recent Women’s Representative to the PSAC National Convention.

Her political action experience is vast, but some highlights include sitting on the City of Windsor Diversity Committee, Founding board member of the Windsor Pride Education resource committee and Prior chapter lead for Windsor-Essex PFLAG… to name a few.

But her greatest joy is making people laugh - her foray into stand-up comedy has brought so much to so many. Today she will try to blur the two.

Breakout Session

Charles Baril
Apefa Adjivon
Anna Lipman
Sarah Abdul Karim

Black Women in Leadership

Bernadeth Betchi
Jennie Esnard
Natasha Duckworth

Data Collection Clerks Panel Discussion

Linda Woods
Géraldine Fortin
Evelyn Beckert
Phyllis Allen
Frances Bitney

Working Caregivers

Leslie Sanderson
National Labour Relations Officer
Union of National Employees

After practicing law in the private sector from 1995, Leslie joined the UNE in 2009. Leslie remains a member of the Law Society of Ontario and applies the knowledge and skill she has accumulated over the years to represent PSAC members in 21 Employer groups.

The Pretend Indian

Crystal Semaganis

Violence in the Workplace

Amélie Turgeon

Resolution Writing

Angela Decker
Céline Ahodekon