Advancing justice

Alex was a Maytree Fellow from 2018 to 2022 and the editor-in-chief of the series.

For the past 35 years, Alex has been deeply committed to improving the lives of vulnerable people. From 1983 to 1999, he worked directly with clients in the non-profit sector, specifically working with adults with mental health needs. In 1999, Alex joined the Ontario Public Service. where he held senior positions in various provincial ministries, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Government Services, the Ministry of Community and Social Services, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. In March 2012 he was appointed Deputy Minister of Children and Youth Services (MCYS), a position he held until October 2016. From October 2016 until June 2018 he was the Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In June 2018, Alex Bezzina retired from the Ontario Public Service.

Sabreena Delhon is the Executive Director of the Samara Centre for Democracy. She is an experienced public sector leader with a proven track record of directing multi-stakeholder research and outreach initiatives across justice, academic, and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining Samara, Sabreena was the Principal of a sole-proprietorship engagement firm called Signal Strategies and held senior roles at the Law Society of Ontario. She is a Fellow with Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and Massey College. Sabreena holds a Masters in Sociology from Dalhousie University and a Bachelors in Sociology from the University of Alberta.

Akwatu Khenti (PhD) is an Assistant Professor with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. He formerly served as Assistant Deputy Minister for Ontario’s Anti-Racism Directorate, Cabinet Office, and Director of Transformative Global Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Akwatu has over 25 years of experience in government and community settings.

Debbie Thompson’s early experiences growing up in Toronto have fostered a commitment to understanding cross-cultural dynamics and working at the intersection of housing, health, and education. This sensitivity has informed successful leadership roles and learning opportunities focusing on strategic policy, partnership, and program development, which have been complemented by educational pursuits, volunteer work, and travel in more than 20 countries. Debbie started her career at Tropicana Community Services in Toronto followed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Pursing her interests in community development, Debbie moved to British Columbia to oversee the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. Returning to Ontario, Debbie held a number of management roles within the Ontario Public Service. Currently, she is overseeing Homelessness and Community Programs for the Regional Municipality of York. Debbie holds a MSc degree in Mental Health Services Research from the University of London (UK), a post-graduate diploma in Adult Training and Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto), and a BA (Summa Cum Laude) from York University.