According to an announcement from the foundation, Konanur, a bencher with the Law Society of Ontario, has been the executive director and a lawyer at the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario since 2008. Her legal practice spans various areas, including immigration, family, human rights, employment, income maintenance, housing and gender-based violence.
Konanur has appeared at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and has provided expert advice on issues such as racism, discrimination and gender-based violence to governments, civil society organizations, the private sector and the United Nations.
Konanur has been recognized for her contributions to the legal field with the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in the Promotion of Women’s Equality and the Canadian Bar Association’s Legal Aid Leader Award. She graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1998 and was called to the bar in Ontario in 2000. She succeeds Linda Rothstein, who served on the board for 11 years, including nine years as chair. Rothstein is a partner at Paliare Roland and a former bencher.
Gerald Chan has been elected by his fellow trustees to take on the role of chair. Chan has been a member of the board since 2023 and is a bencher and partner at Stockwoods LLP Barristers.