Board of Directors

Mel Holley

DIRECTOR

• I spent 15 years as a member of a multidisciplinary team at Manitoba's Public Interest Law Centre. The Centre conducted public interest litigation on behalf of consumers, seniors, First Nations, and disability groups. My area was poverty, specializing in welfare issues, landlord and tenant matters and the rights of the disabled. I was also responsible for the production of written self help / advocacy materials relating to the rights of tenants and social assistance recipients.
• At Manitoba Ombudsman I worked as an investigator, specializing in complaint investigations regarding municipal administration. I later served as Manager of Systemic Investigations, Manager of Whistleblower Investigations, and, for the three years immediately to retirement as Acting Ombudsman for Province of Manitoba.
• While at Manitoba Ombudsman I was primarily responsible for the production of Understanding Fairness, a guide for municipal decision makers. I have participated in systemic reviews of Manitoba's child welfare system, and it's provincial social assistance program.
• I have taught classes in advocacy, and in administrative investigations, and lectured on poverty from three different perspectives; as someone raised in poverty, as an advocate for people living in poverty, and as a systemic investigator examining government programs intended to address poverty.
• I have previous board experience with the Canadian Mental Health Association, both the Winnipeg Region and the Manitoba Division. I have also worked with fledgling community groups, with an anti-poverty focus, on organizational and foundational issues such as board structure and governance.