Treasurer
Shanesha Robinson is a corporate tax manager at Ernst and Young LLP and has been with the company since 2015. She joined as a staff accountant in the Tax Services department and has worked her way up to her current position as a manager. Prior to Ernst & Young LLP Shanesha worked in pension regulation at the Financial Services Commission in Barbados for 2 years.
Shanesha is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts – Honours Economics – Finance Specialization/ Human Resources Management Option from the University of Waterloo.
Over her career, Shanesha has volunteered her time to the foodbank and united way initiatives.
In her spare time, she enjoys physical fitness and spending time with friends and family.
Director
Stephanie is a lifelong resident of Waterloo Region. She obtained her B.A. in Geography and Political Science from St. Lawrence University in New York state then went on to complete a law degree at the University of Ottawa.
Stephanie has been a criminal defence lawyer in Kitchener since 1994 and has come to value the mandate of CJI in reaching positive resolutions for her clients and for the broader community.
Vice Chair
Ben Gregory is an architect and partner at WalterFedy – a local well-established architecture and engineering firm located in Kitchener. He was born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo and aside from a university career in the US, he has spent the majority of his professional career in Waterloo Region.
Ben enjoys giving back to the community through volunteer work as a Rotarian, raising money for KidsAbility and being an active CJI board member.
Director
Allison is a lecturer at the University of Waterloo in the department of Sociology and Legal Studies.
Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of youth crime, gender and crime, and sexuality and the law.
Director
Simeon Kibaalya has been a resident of Kitchener for over 25 years. Simeon works as a Senior Registrar with the Ministry of the Attorney General at the Waterloo Region Courthouse and has been there since 2007. Simeon holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
Simeon is a Board Member on the Waterloo Region Bail Supervision Program. Previously he was a Board Member on the Waterloo Region Record Newspaper Community Editorial Board. Simeon has volunteered for the Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region, as a coach for the Kitchener Soccer Club and as a Committee Member on the City of Kitchener’s Safety and Health Advisory Committee.
Simeon’s interests include soccer, gardening and kayaking.
Simeon believes that CJI offers programs that are truly beneficial to the wellbeing of our community.
Director
Laurie Black Rooney worked with the Ministry of the Attorney General, Victims and Vulnerable Persons Division for 30 years as a victim/witness services worker and was manager of the program for the last 10 years of her career. Her interest in restorative justice stems from years of working with victims of trauma within the Criminal Justice System.
Laurie was born and raised in Fergus and is proud of her historic roots. Laurie plays the bagpipes and is a member of the Fergus Pipe Band.
Chair
Roxanne is currently the Executive Vice President of Strategy & Administration for the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan and its group of companies (CURO Canada and TW Insurance). She joined OTIP in 2000 and has 25 years of experience in the field of human resources within the insurance industry. She was appointed to her current role after serving as OTIP’s Director of Human Resources from 2005 – 2016, where she championed the people focus for the organization.
Outside of her role with OTIP, Roxanne is actively involved in advancing the human resources field. She currently serves on the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) Exam Validation Committee and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Grand Valley Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA), assuming the role of president twice.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Honours English Language and Literature from Wilfrid Laurier University, received her Certified Human Resources Management certificate from the University of Guelph and is a graduate of Queen’s University’s Executive Human Resources Program. Roxanne is also fluently bilingual in French and English.
Past Chair
Andre Rajna has been the Crown Attorney of Oxford County since the fall of 2015. Born and raised in the Waterloo Region, Andre has worked in the administration of justice in the region as defence counsel (1996-2000) and as a member of Kitchener Crown Attorney’s office (2000-2015). He then acted as both the Deputy Crown Attorney and Crown Attorney before taking on his role in Oxford. His interest in restorative justice began with his introduction to CJI in his work in the Waterloo Region.
I first began my journey at the University of Waterloo, with a joint major in Peace and Conflict Studies and Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies, and a minor in Women’s Studies. Through this education, I learned effective ways to communicate and hold space in relationships with family, friends, and those in our community. I resonated so deeply with this work that I continued on in all the training I could to become a mediator (e.g., Conflict Management and Mediation Certificate at Conrad Grebel and Family Mediation Certificate from York University). In my training, I developed an understanding of the values I held as a peace practitioner and the approaches that I wanted to engage with in my life work.
Completing my internship in Elder Mediation Services and volunteering as a mediator in many different areas of mediation services at CJI, I joined an organization that represents my values and mission in approaching conflict through restorative justice, conflict transformation, and trauma-informed and culturally-responsive lenses. On my own time, I love to explore and cultivate knowledge in mycology, of flora and fauna, and developing a deeper connection to the natural world.
Salaams (Peace) Everyone!
From an early age, I have been fascinated by the transformative power of education. This passion led me to pursue a PhD in the Education program at York University, where my research focuses on how perceptions of restorative justice (RJ) influence its practice. My goal is to create environments where every student feels comfortable, dignified, and equipped with the tools for healthy conflict management.
My journey began during my undergraduate studies, where RJ aligned with the core values and philosophies I already believed in. I started as a volunteer with Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) in 2021, after completing transformative mediation training. This experience deepened my understanding of how restorative dialogue can meet the healing and justice needs of those impacted by harm, reaffirming my belief in the potential of restorative approaches.
As a Service Coordinator for Restorative Responses to Harm (RRHC), I strive to bridge theory and practice to best support those impacted by harm. Working as an RJ practitioner allows me to extend my academic work into the community, witnessing the tangible impact of restorative practices and addressing the gaps between theory and practice.
Beyond my academic pursuits, you will usually find me developing community programs related to holistic wellness, detailing cars, cooking, or enjoying the outdoors through hiking, kayaking, gardening, or napping in my hammock. Recharging keeps me grounded and inspired, continually fuelling my commitment to effecting positive change in education and justice.
Happy to connect.
Hello!
My name is Gabrielle “Gaby” McInnis, and my journey in peace work began at a young age, watching re-runs of Star Trek with my family. Inspired by the vision that we might, one day, all live in peace and celebrate diversity in infinite combinations, I pursued a Bachelors Degree in Legal Studies and a Masters Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Waterloo. My work has focused on fields such as restorative justice and mediation, decolonization and reconciliation as well as feminist legal theory and history.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the honour and privilege of working with partners in Canada, Peru, and Uganda, supporting organizations that seek to create culturally diverse opportunities for empowerment rooted in justice, equity, and holistic wellbeing. Learning about CJI in 2017, I was inspired by the idea that together, we can build a restorative region where everyone is valued. As an intern with Elder Mediation Services during the COVID-19 pandemic, I became passionate about working with elders and building authentic relationships. Working with older adults has gifted me the opportunity to understand the world through the eyes of others; I look to my elders and ancestors to know what it means to create peace, in the hopes that one day, I might empower my descendants to transform the future.
I promote that my community is enriched and strengthened by diverse lived experiences through cultural exchange; I am a strong advocate for mental health, equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization and anti-oppression. When not at work, you can find me reading, traveling, or celebrating the arts.
Understanding who we are, how we show up in difficult situations, and learning from each other with humility are all critical elements of flourishing diverse communities. As a Sulah Program Coordinator at CJI, I am honoured to accompany communities exploring stories around identity and harm that centers identity. I am committed to supporting those seeking to reimagine relationships and co-create meaningful conversations.
Through my Bachelor of Knowledge Integration, with Joint Honours in Psychology, I honed interdisciplinary skills of drawing connections from differing ways of knowing to navigate complex situations. This education supports my capacity to be present to multiple perspectives. I embrace a person-centered approach holding the strong conviction that we are each the experts of our lives and value the sacredness of sharing these stories with one another. In my personal time, I find joy in moments with nature, reading in a hammock, and laughing with loved ones.
Conflict as a result of differences among diverse people grappling to co-exist is inevitable. Fractured relationships don’t have to be. Through my experiences as a son, brother, friend, Muslim, immigrant, citizen, student, neighbor, volunteer and community organizer, I have witnessed a lot of conflict and when I reflect back; details of the conflicts seem less significant than the status of the relationships that were strained.
Service in equity, diversity and inclusion work in addition to a BA in Global Studies with Community Engagement from Wilfrid Laurier University compliment my lived experience. As the Coordinator to CJI’s Sulah Program, I have the pleasure of working with, and for the community to facilitate a restorative approach to hate crime and identity-based harm; an approach that offers opportunity to bridge divides, develop mutual understanding and enable capacity to build competent communities.
As an advocate for mutual aid and decentralized approaches to care, you can find me in my off-hours organizing Community Fridge KW. I enjoy practicing photography, hosting friends, visiting farmers markets and building playlists.
As CJI’s Administrative Assistant since 2007, I answer the phone, greet visitors, oversee mail outs and process training registrations. I also assists staff members from CJI’s five program areas in various capacities and do my best to keep track of their coming and going. I am a Graduate of the Social Services Program at Conestoga College. I volunteer with the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council and co-facilitate a group for individuals bereaved by suicide. I enjoy reading, camping and spending time with family and friends.
Add Bio
Prior to working at CJI, I spent most of my career working with women impacted by violence. Along the way I had the opportunity to work with criminalized youth, homeless women and sexually abused men, which helped me understand how people can fall through the cracks and often become criminalized.
I spent 20 years working to address the root causes of gender-based violence, and use this experience to coordinate community based projects and committees between CJI and other organizations.
I obtained my M.A. in Leadership from the University of Guelph and I found myself inspired and equipped to lead and support teams through some of the most unique and meaningful work that I have ever known. I love being a part of the restorative justice movement because we can tackle both personal and systemic issues through a context of learning and support.
For me, one of the best parts about working within a restorative justice framework, is the ability to work with people who value meaningful accountability, community building and inclusion. Outside of work I enjoy participating in CrossFit and pressuring other people to try it.
I started working with CJI in March 2013 in the finance section. In March 2015 I became the Financial Analyst, assisting staff members in all CJI programs with budgeting, cashflow and reporting requirements. I was born in Australia. I have worked in finance in both Australia and Canada, as I have traveled and lived in both places with my husband and two children. I received my Advanced Diploma of Accounting from Swan TAFE in Perth, Western Australia.
I enjoy reading, walking by the lake, spending time with family and friends and travelling to new places to see other cultures – you can learn so much from people.
Director of Programs Conflict Resolution & Mediation Services (she/her)
Hello! I enjoy meeting people, connecting and learning around different experiences, and walking alongside community to consider the importance of social connection and relationship to each other and the systems in which we exist. I am a daughter, partner, mother, neighbour, friend, team member, and citizen.
As a Director of Programs at CJI, I work alongside my volunteer and paid colleagues to ensure our services have sustainable resources, quality, and connection to community.
On my time outside of CJI, you can find me playing sports, canoe camping, bicycle commuting, and enjoying times with family and friends. I look forward to meeting and connecting with you.
I am excited that I get to build relationships with members of our community as they explore our WRHS program.
It feels good to be part of an initiative that plays a small yet significant part in creating a more affordable Waterloo Region.
Outside of work, I enjoy day trips with friends and family , gardening, & spending time with my 3 cats and super spoiled Beagle.
Like so many others, I connect with CJI’s belief that “the only limit to the power of Restorative Justice is the capacity of the human heart to change and grow.” I am drawn to spaces and experiences that call us to grow, change, and expand who we are as people and how we are in relationship to one another.
There is a natural reciprocity within the Restorative Justice principles that offers growth, change, healing and transformation to all who engage the work including participants, volunteers, staff, organizations and businesses. Within my work of community development, volunteer engagement, facilitation, coaching, and event planning, I seek to connect, empower, and engage others in this transformative work.
When I am not working, you might find me at the dog park with my best pal Walter! I am a creative person who enjoys singing, painting, art journaling, writing, yoga, and deep conversation that challenges me to think in new and expansive ways.
I’ve been fortunate enough to view the justice system from many angles in my career, and consistently the perspective I feel most aligned with is a restorative one.
With this in mind, I appreciated my time with CJI from 2019-2023 as a Service Coordinator with the Sulah program. We asked our community to consider a new approach to hate crime and identity-based harm, one with the potential to bridge divides, elevate the voices of those who are often disempowered and shift perspectives.
Adding the role of Service Coordinator for our Restorative Responses to Harm or Crime (RRHC) program in 2022 felt like a natural fit and brought me full circle back to where I was over 20 years ago when I had my first exposure to Restorative Justice as a volunteer. I had completed a joint LL.B./M.S.W. in 1999 and was exploring where I would fit at the intersection of law and social work.
In 2023, after completing the Facilitated Dialogue training with CJI’s Revive program, I began volunteering as a Facilitated Dialogue facilitator adding a new lens to my understanding of how a restorative approach can address the healing and justice needs of individuals impacted by harm in our community.
I enjoy good food and time with family and friends.
I spent the first part of my life travelling and learning about peoples and cultures. Things took a turn when I moved to a small Indigenous community in Northern British Columbia. Through that experience, I learned about trauma and its effects and more importantly, the power of community and connection in the healing process. After returning I pursued a career in Community Work and found a home at CJI in the Stride program working with federally sentenced women and community volunteers.
Now, I support programs across CJI and appreciate all the ways that restorative values can be applied within community. Outside work, I enjoy making things – from cooking meals to knitting blankets.
Stride Night Coordinator and Communications Coordinator
My Bachelor’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies brought me to CJI. I began to volunteer with the Stride program and learned so much about the need to meet people as people. We all have the ability to cause harm and to choose healing. Since my undergraduate degree I’ve spent time living and working in community as a refugee settlement worker. Meeting and living with people from all over the world was a beautiful gift which showed me the power in drawing close despite differences and choosing to celebrate each other and the things that define our sense of identity and position in the world.
My role here as the Communications Coordinator allows me insight into all of our programming, and as someone who loves storytelling, I’m excited to be able to share what we do with you!
I am passionate about my work with Stride, and am so grateful for the ability to meet and get to know individuals at Grand Valley Institute for Women and spend time together in community with our awesome volunteers!
In my spare time I enjoy casual bike rides, coffee shop visits, dance parties and writing people snail mail!
I stumbled upon CJI while I was in the Social Service Worker program at Conestoga College. At the time, I was set on working with at risk children and families and truthfully, not very open to other areas of work. However, that quickly changed when I learned about CJI. The principles of restorative justice are closely aligned with my personal values, and I became very interested in being involved in the agency. After completing my student placement with CJI and volunteering within the Revive program as a group facilitator, I was honoured to continue on with the agency as a Family Centred Programming Assistant. CJI has helped me expand my definition of justice, recognize the role community should play when harm has occurred, and advocate for transformative approaches to conflict.
In my free time I enjoy photography, spending time with my family and friends, and volunteering with organizations in my community and abroad. As if that doesn’t keep me busy enough, I decided to go back to school and I’m currently completing my Bachelor of Social Work at Wilfred Laurier University.
Through living in community, I discovered two common responses to conflict. Resilient people build consensus as they collaborate to solve the problem. While others compete, generating mistrust and dissolving relationships. A BA in Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University and community development work with people of diverse backgrounds, complements my lived experience.
Through CJI’s Mediation Services, I help community members develop the skills they need to resolve conflict. I hope to help people learn and grow together in order to reduce tensions and create healthier communities.
I enjoy yoga, hiking, cycling and reading when I am not resolving conflict.
Julie coordinates groups for male-identified survivors of sexual harm and partners of people who have caused sexual harm.
My role as the Service Coordinator in the Revive program feels like a full circle for me. I began my career in social services at Community Justice Initiatives coordinating volunteers. I left to pursue work as an outreach worker and have been supporting people in that capacity for the past 12 years. I am pleased to be back working in Restorative Justice because the philosophy and principles fit with my own values: the importance of community, treating people with respect and that together we can make positive changes.
The Revive program supports people impacted by sexual harm providing a safe place for people to heal and provides opportunities for people who have caused harm to understand the impact of harm and make positive changes
My passion for my work in the Revive program developed through my experience as a Revive volunteer facilitating support groups over the past 10 years. As a volunteer I had the honor of being invited to sit with people and witness the healing and growth that happens with a restorative approach. The impact of that experience will continue to influence my work and I look forward to continuing my strong commitment to this program.
When I am not at work I enjoy time with family and friends, creating yummy desserts and volunteering in the community.
In 2002, I heard the Elmira story, and haven’t look back since. Around that time, I was in a mediation course that focused on winners and losers in a negotiation. Now through my work with CJI, I see a bigger picture as we build peace one step at a time without creating winners or losers. It’s a better way of being.
I began as a volunteer mediator with CJI in 2002 and joined the staff team in 2005. Over the years, I have taken on many roles at CJI that have enriched my life both professionally and personally. Working with diverse clientele and volunteers makes my work interesting and enjoyable. Connecting with people and empowering them to work through conflict is a rewarding challenge.
When not working, I am passionate about being actively involved in community events as well as cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing—to name a few activities!
CJI creatively, and innovatively applies restorative justice principles to challenging community problems.
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