Implementation Taskforce

Independent Implementation Lead

Janna Allen Hines

Bio

Janna Hines’ experience in diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) is rooted in her desire to create holistic and accountable approaches to advancing equity within organizations. Janna has nearly a decade of experience managing DEI strategy development and implementation, programs, and community engagement, as well as delivering DEI keynotes and training. Janna’s experience also includes launching Employee Resource Groups and supporting organizational social responsibility in alignment with DEI. She holds a BA in Social Work and is a CQ® Certified Facilitator in Unconscious Bias and Cultural Intelligence.

Current Taskforce Members

Alisha Brown Fagan

Bio

Alisha Brown Fagan, a proud seventh-generation African Nova Scotian from East Preston, traces her roots to the Jamaican Maroons who settled in Nova Scotia in 1796. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and psychology from St. Thomas University in 2009. Alisha went on to complete the Indigenous Blacks and Mi’kmaq Initiative at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law, graduating in 2012. During her time at Dalhousie, she was an active member and, at one point, the Vice-President (Communications) of the Dalhousie Black Law Students’ Association.

Called to the Nova Scotia bar in 2013, Alisha spent 8½ years practicing family and child protection law with Nova Scotia Legal Aid. She later served as Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives with the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, where she led the Land Titles Initiative, helping residents in five historic African Nova Scotian communities secure clear title to land passed down through generations. She also led various other initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and inequities within government policies, legislation, programs, and services. In 2023, Alisha returned to Nova Scotia Legal Aid, first as Manager of Legal Programs before moving into her current role as Chief Projects and Innovations Officer.

Her advocacy extends well beyond her legal career. Alisha has served as President of the Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. She contributes actively to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society through her roles on the Nominating Committee, Ruck Report Implementation Task Force, and Complaints Investigation Committee. She also serves on Dalhousie University’s Alumni Association Board and Senate Honorary Degrees Committee.

Desiree Jones-Matthias

Bio

Desiree Jones-Matthias (she/her) is an African Nova Scotian woman and mother of two from the community of Upper Hammonds Plains. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Law and Society.

She graduated with her Juris Doctor from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in 2020 and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2022. She articled with Nova Scotia Legal Aid prior to joining the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute in 2022 as staff lawyer in the Legal Services, Criminal Division. Desiree is currently pursuing her Master of Law at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.

Desiree is a member of the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Development Association, Upper Hammonds Plains Community Land Trust, and the Nova Scotia Criminal Lawyers' Association. She is a public representative on the Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator's Professional Conduct Committee. She was appointed to the Nova Scotia Environmental Racism Panel in 2023.

Desiree's involvement in the NSBS started as a summer law student in 2019, before joining the Racial Equity Committee in January 2023 and representing the Halifax District on Council from 2023-2025.

Michelle Kelly KC

Bio

Michelle Kelly is a Partner with Cox & Palmer and practices in commercial and insurance litigation. Michelle was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2004 and graduated from UNB with her LLB in 2003. Michelle has spent the last 20 years zealously representing her clients across Nova Scotia and has appeared at all levels of Court in the Province.

Within her Firm, Michelle has had the role of Finance Partner and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Partner as part of the Management Team at Cox & Palmer. She currently acts as the Regional Chair of the EDI Committee and sits on Cox & Palmer’s Regional Board.

From 2019 to 2023, Michelle served as a Member of Bar Council and has also served on the Professional Responsibility Policies and Procedures Committee, the Supreme Court Liaison Committee, and Co-Chaired the Gender Equity Committee. Outside of NSBS, Michelle has served on various boards including Chairing the Board for Alice House for a number of years, serving on the Board of the Jamaican Cultural Association of Nova Scotia, and sitting as a Member of the Advisory Council for the Status of Women before assuming the President role with that organization from 2018-2019.

Michelle received her QC (now KC) in 2021 and in 2023 was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer. She was also recently inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Melisa C. Marsman

Bio

Melisa C. Marsman (BA, LLB, LLM) is an Assistant Professor at Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. A long-time legal practitioner, in private practice and in-house legal counsel, Melisa is experienced in a myriad of corporate/commercial areas of law and teaches and researches predominantly in business-related courses, critical race studies, and African Nova Scotians and the law.

Patricia Jones

Bio

Patricia Jones graduated from the University of Alberta and then joined Legal Aid as an articled clerk in 2006. She began her practice with the Dartmouth Criminal Legal Aid office the following year, transferring to the HRM Duty Counsel Office in 2015. She became the manager of that office in the fall of 2022.

Patricia is active on several committees relevant to her practice of criminal law. She volunteers her time as second year moot judge for the Schulich School of Law and for the Schulich School of Law Gale Cup. She also supervises students as part of the HRCE coop each year and has mentored articled clerks.

In her spare time, Patricia enjoys various volunteer roles such as being the Co-Director of the Youth Running Series, and the former Run Organizer for the Dartmouth Terry Fox Run. She is an active volunteer within the running community and has been present to cheer on runners as a volunteer at each finish line of the 17-leg, 30-hour Cabot Trail relay for the last 10 years.

Archie Kaiser

Bio

Morgan Manzer

Bio

Morgan Manzer is Nova Scotia Legal Aid’s first Communications Strategist. He focuses on how NSLA – a complex organization with 24 offices and three sub-offices – can foster a culture of engagement, service excellence, and purpose, through improved connections and collaboration.

Morgan joined NSLA as a Staff Lawyer in 2015. He practices family law with a specialty in child protection law. He focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and mental health, and frequently presents on these topics. Morgan is an active member of NSLA’s Equity and Racial Diversity Committee (ERDC).

Morgan is the past President of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS) 2024-2025 term. His work with the society spans several years. He was seconded to the NSBS Equity and Access Office in 2019-2020, and has served in First and Second VP roles, and on Executive, Finance, Complaints Investigation and Racial Equity committees.

In addition to his role with NSBS, Morgan is a member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, Nova Scotia, and the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Morgan is current Vice Chair of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, former Chair of Halifax Pride (2016-2021), and former Board Member of the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (2017-2019).

Armand Paul