Karen Perron New President; First Time in 114-Year History of Association a Woman President Will Pass on the Role to Another Woman
TORONTO – Following the close of the election today, the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) is pleased to announce its 2021-2022 Board of Directors. With the combination of experience and diverse perspectives, the board is ideally suited to move the profession forward in post-pandemic times.
Karen Perron – as 1st vice-president – will be the next president of the OBA. She takes over from Charlene Theodore, who will sit on the board as immediate past-president. Ranjan Agarwal becomes 1st vice-president, while Kelly McDermott has been named 2nd vice-president and will assume the presidency in 2023.
“Wherever you are, whatever you need, whenever you need it, the OBA serves the whole lawyer across the whole province, from dusk to dawn, from desk to doorstop, in and outside the practice of law,” says Perron, a Francophone who hails from Timmins and practices at BLG in Ottawa. “In a rapidly changing world where connection is key to success, there is endless opportunity to draw from in the OBA’s diverse and dynamic community – the OBA will be Ontario lawyers’ link to one another, to wellness and to all they need to succeed and serve their communities well.
“Regional differences will be highly relevant to the tools and services the OBA builds for lawyers, but entirely irrelevant to their ability to access them.”
All board members for the 2021-2022 term will assume their positions on Sept. 1.
2021-2022 OBA Board of Directors
President: Karen Perron
Vice-President: Ranjan Agarwal
2nd Vice-President: Kelly McDermott
Treasurer: Jeffrey Percival
Immediate Past President: Charlene Theodore
Secretary: Signa Daum Shanks
Chair of Professional Development: Jonathan Richardson
Chair of Sections: Katy Commisso
Regional Director – Central East: Christine Roth
Regional Director – Central West: George Daoud
Regional Director – Central South: Jennifer Zdriluk
Regional Director – East: Alayna Miller
Regional Director – Northeast: Donna Dorrington
Regional Director – Northwest: Warren Mouck
Regional Director – Southwest: Doug Ferguson
Regional Director – Toronto: Bianca Thomas
Student Chair: Daniel Choi
Young Lawyers Division – Central Chair: Tahir Khorasanee
Young Lawyers Division – East Chair: Marlee Olson
Young Lawyers Division – North Chair: Jessica Alves
Young Lawyers Division – Southwest Chair: Anand Srivastava