Ellen is a mediator, arbitrator and investigator with ADR Chambers. She has extensive experience as a tribunal adjudicator, ombudsman, complaints investigator and as the director of in-house legal departments.
Ellen brings over 30 years of experience in dealing with major issues involving commercial and trade law, procurement, customs regulation, energy law, business and environmental regulation, information and privacy law, administrative law, ethics, government operations of all levels of government and public law.
Ellen has Integrity Commissioner experience as the Integrity Commissioner for two Ontario municipalities and an Associate Integrity Commissioner investigator for seven additional municipalities and two school boards. She has also investigated over 200 complaints against major banks and municipalities on behalf of ADR Chambers Ombuds Office as their external Ombudsman.
Between 2012 and 2017, Ellen was a Member of the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), an independent provincial quasi-judicial tribunal. At the OEB she presided over numerous cases on energy issues. These involved applications to approve the rates charged by electrical and gas utilities and to approve the construction of new utility lines.
During the same timeframe, Ellen was also the Ombudsman for the National Capital Commission (NCC), a federal government agency with extensive land holdings and contracted services. At the NCC she acted independently to investigate and mediate complaints by members of the public concerning NCC property management and operations, reporting to the NCC Board of Directors.
Ellen was a Member of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT), an independent federal quasi-judicial tribunal, from 2001 to 2010. At the CITT she presided over numerous cases involving business and economic issues, under the provisions of Canada’s trade agreements. These included complaints about major federal government procurements, anti-dumping cases, customs appeals and economic inquiries for the Minister of Finance. She adjudicated numerous cases involving the business operations of manufacturing companies and steel producers.
Prior to her appointment to the CITT, Ellen held the positions of Director of Legal Services at Industry Canada and Environment Canada, Senior Counsel at Transport Canada and Counsel at the Department of Regional Industrial Expansion. Her major commercial files included the construction of Terminal 3 at Pearson Airport, the financial restructuring of Canadian Airlines and financing for the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Ellen also has experience in private law practice.
Ellen has been a member of the Ontario Bar since 1979 and has an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa and M.B.A. from Queen’s University.
