Lena Balata

Lena Balata is Senior Policy Advisor at Maytree. Lena is a policy professional with experience in research, policy analysis, and program development, focused on advancing solutions that reduce poverty and promote equity. She has worked as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Indigenous Education Branch of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, contributing to policies supporting Indigenous communities, and as a Researcher at the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, examining policy intersections with access and social mobility. Lena holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education, specializing in Indigenous education policy, and is committed to creating evidence-based, community-responsive solutions for social equity.