Vandana, one of the first staff members, has worked with Rise since 2016. Vandana has focused her legal career on working to achieve gender equality and empowerment for women. Prior to joining Rise Women’s Legal Centre, Vandana was a sole practitioner and practised primarily in the areas of family law, child protection law (as parent’s counsel) and immigration&refugee law, with a focus on assisting women who had experienced family violence. Vandana also worked previously at an aboriginal law firm, articled in criminal law with Glen Orris. Q.C., and worked as a Mental Health Advocate for CLAS during law school. Vandana has a J.D. from the University of British Columbia, and an M.Sc. from the University of Calgary. Vandana is a strong believer in the power of community and is excited about the potential of Rise to help unite communities working to achieve gender equality. In her spare time, Vandana can be found spending time with dear friends and family, trying to start her own food revolution in her backyard, doing yoga, or escaping to the Sunshine Coast.

Simona joined Rise in 2022. Working as a family law advocate since 2018, Simona has been on the ground with self-represented clients navigating family law and related legal systems. Simona has a bachelor’s degree in criminology. She was born in Macedonia and immigrated to Canada with her family in the 7th grade but currently lives on the lands of the Kwikwetlem First Nation. Simona comes to this work to help folks overcome barriers in access to justice and is eager to connect clients to the best resources (and to help resources do their best work). Simona is continuously inspired by her clients every day, and their strength and resiliency keep her motivated to keep doing her best work. When she is not at work, Simona tries to spend time with her family, friends, and her dogs every chance she gets.

Hilary joined Rise in 2023. Hilary has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and special education. She has spent most of her career working alongside people and communities who have experienced marginalization. In recent years, Hilary has taken a special interest in studying power literacy and utilizes what she has learned in her advocacy. Hilary began working as a family law advocate in 2018 and has a passion for helping people overcome barriers and advocating for systemic change. Outside of work, Hilary is an artist, writer, and creative. Hilary spends as much of her free time as possible with her family, friends, and pets.

Courtney began at Rise as a practicum student for her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of British Columbia. She returned to Rise to become Junior Advocate for our Community Legal Clinic, thanks to generous funding from the Law Foundation. Courtney does client intakes; assists clients with Legal Aid applications, refusal disputes, and general Legal Aid advocacy; provides general legal information and referrals for clients who do not fall within our scope of practice; and does access to justice work wherever possible for clients.

Courtney has always been passionate about fighting injustice in the legal system, and she feel honoured to work at Rise where she can help to mitigate that experience for clients. Courtney grew up in traditional Treaty 7 Territory, in a town colloquially known as Olds, Alberta. She is honoured to live and work in the unceded homelands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations .

When she’s not at Rise, Courtney enjoys long rainy walks and FaceTiming with her slew of nieces and nephews back home. In addition to her work at Rise.

Lily Hsueh is a Family Law Advocate who helps clients facing multiple barriers. Originally from Taiwan, Lily has degrees in Comparative Literature and Social Service. She has extensive experience working with clients who have FASDs and survivors of domestic violence.

Carmine comes to Rise with a background of community-based non-profit work where she has supported youth, children with special needs, seniors, newcomers, and volunteers through various capacities and programs. As Program Assistant, Carmine supports Rise’s continually growing and adapting programs on the full spectrum of client-facing to administrative tasks. She is very passionate about finding ways to help the Rise deliver services accessibly and effectively to clients and other organizations around BC to better fight systems of inequity and oppression.

Carmine is a second-generation settler, born on the unceded and traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations (colloquially known as Vancouver) to Cantonese-descent refugees from Vietnam, and was raised on the unceded and traditional lands of the q̓ ícə̓y (Katzie), Semiahmoo, and Qw’?ntl’en (Kwantlen) Nations (colloquially known as Surrey).

When not learning about new things in her spare time, Carmine also enjoys plant-collecting, singing, photography, art, and travelling.