About Jessica Shabtai

I am delighted to introduce you to Jessica Shabtai, the newly appointed Ombudsperson at the Office of the Ombudsperson at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Jessica brings a wealth of experience in advocacy, policy development, and leadership, with over 10 years of service in the public sector. She has extensive expertise in addressing complaints, conducting systemic reviews, and fostering fairness and equity. Jessica is a Juris Doctor graduate, and she also holds a Master of Social Work with a focus on health and mental health.

Before joining our university, Jessica served as the Director of Child and Youth Advocacy Services at the Representative for Children and Youth Office in Nunavut. In this role, she oversaw individual and systemic advocacy programs, conducted reviews of critical injuries and deaths, collaborated with interest groups, and drafted reports for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. Jessica has also contributed to equity initiatives through her work on the Law Society of Nunavut’s Task Force for the Nunavut Statutes Exam and other professional committees.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jessica is deeply committed to improving access to justice and has lived and worked in Nunavut for over a decade, learning from and working closely with Inuit communities to address systemic barriers. Her interdisciplinary background in law and social work, combined with her passion for advocacy and fairness, makes her an excellent fit for this important role.

We are thrilled to have Jessica join our team and are confident her expertise and dedication will greatly benefit our community.