Jessica Shabtai appointed as new ombudsperson at TMU

Toronto Metropolitan University is pleased to announce Jessica Shabtai as the new ombudsperson for students in the Office of the Ombudsperson.

Shabtai brings over a decade of experience in advocacy, policy development and leadership within the public sector. She has expertise in addressing complaints, conducting systemic reviews and promoting fairness and equity. 

“The issue of fairness has always been important to me and I hope to bring a different perspective around fairness that's inclusive,” said Shabtai, who holds a Juris Doctor degree and a master of social work with a focus on health and mental health.

Before joining TMU, Shabtai served as director of Child and Youth Advocacy Services at the Representative for Children and Youth Office in Nunavut. In this role, she led individual and systemic advocacy programs, reviewed critical injuries and deaths, collaborated with key stakeholders, and drafted reports for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. She has also contributed to equity initiatives through her work with the Law Society of Nunavut’s Task Force for the Nunavut Statutes Exam and other professional committees.

“I was very fortunate to be able to work in Nunavut where I was working in a culture that was not my own with colleagues and friends and community members from a very different background from me. I think what I bring to that is an awareness of the different ways people interact with the world,” she said. “Not to say that I necessarily understand everybody's perspective, but that I'm open to learning and considering how systems impact people from different backgrounds and worldviews and being open to learning from them while also maintaining impartiality and the focus on procedural fairness.”

Beyond her professional achievements, Shabtai is dedicated to improving access to justice. Having lived and worked in Nunavut for over a decade, she has collaborated closely with Inuit communities to address systemic barriers. Her interdisciplinary expertise in law and social work, combined with her passion for advocacy and equity, makes her a strong addition to this role.

A resource for students

The Office of the Ombudsperson is an independent resource dedicated to helping students navigate and resolve concerns, conflicts or disputes within the university. Committed to fairness and respect, the office ensures that all parties involved are treated equitably and that decisions affecting students are made in a timely and just manner.

Students can turn to the Office of the Ombudsperson if they feel they have been treated unfairly or need guidance on next steps after attempting to resolve an issue. The office provides support on matters such as academic appeals, academic misconduct, academic standing, reinstatement, and complaints involving faculty or staff.

Working with Shabtai are assistant ombudspersons Edmun Natkunarajah and Jemmy Erhiaganoma. More information can be found on their website.