Please note that we do not provide legal services to individuals. If you require legal advice or assistance, please contact your local community legal clinic. You can find out which legal clinic serves your community by visiting the Legal Aid Ontario website or by calling 1-800-668-8258.
Nabila Qureshi, Staff Lawyer (ext. 5156)
Nabila joined ISAC in 2018 and works on test case litigation relating to employment law and workers’ rights, poverty law, and income security. Prior to joining ISAC, Nabila practised employment and human rights law at a boutique law firm in downtown Toronto. She has acted as counsel before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, including the Divisional Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Nabila was called to the Ontario bar in 2016 after completing her articles at a full service Bay Street firm. She graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, where she worked with the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights to advocate for women’s freedom of religion, and with Downtown Legal Services’ Refugee and Immigration division. In her spare time, Nabila enjoys making copious amounts of chai and getting lost in a good adventure novel.
Arash Ghiassi, Lawyer / Yale Public Interest Fellow
Arash joined ISAC in 2019 on a Yale Public Interest Fellowship. Before starting at ISAC, he completed his Clerkship at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Arash’s legal experience includes working at several legal clinics and public interest organizations in the US and Canada, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the BC Civil Liberties Association. At ISAC, he works on test case litigation to improve workers’ rights and public benefits. Arash is called to bars of Ontario and New York and is committed to lawyering in support of movements for social change. In his free time, Arash enjoys learning to cook a variety of Persian dishes.
Devorah Kobluk, Senior Policy Analyst
Devorah joined ISAC as a Policy Analyst in August 2020. Prior to joining ISAC, Devorah worked in the anti-violence community at a rape crisis centre. As a staffer on Parliament Hill, she managed communications and worked on policy related to seniors’ and low-income constituents’ income security and on a review panel on energy and environment policy where she collaborated with several community organizations and Indigenous nations. Devorah holds a BA, Honours in Political Science, International Development and Gender Studies from Carleton University, and an MA in English and Critical Theory from the University of Alberta. She is currently completing her PhD in English and Critical Theory with a focus on addiction and mental health. She speaks English and French. In her spare time, Devorah enjoys travelling, Gaga dance, classical music, and is always up for a healthy debate on any topic.
Yola Grant, Executive Director
Yola Grant has practiced human rights, labour and employment law for 30 years. Yola recently served as the adjudicative lead (Associate Chair) at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario where she decided significant age and citizenship discrimination cases. Yola Grant holds an LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School and a M.Sc. (Physical Chemistry) from the University of Toronto and is a regular speaker on human rights and equality in the workplace. She was trained in poverty law at PCLS and called to the Ontario Bar in 1989.
Apart from work, family celebrations and her interest in travel, films, new music and fabrics occupies her time. For decades, Yola has served on numerous boards of charities and non-profits.
Lorna Martin, Receptionist and Administrative Assistant (ext. 5179)
Lorna joined ISAC and ACTO as the shared Reception Coordinator in September 2012 after six glorious years in Jamaica. Prior to that she was the Event Manager at AMD (previously known as ATI Technologies) for 15 years facilitating all tradeshows, annual general meetings, and product launches globally. She is an avid Blue Jays fan and a volunteer director at Microskills, a Toronto-based non-profit that provides employment services to women, youth, immigrants, and people from racialized communities.
Elena Koneva, Office Manager (ext. 5142)
Elena has extensive experience managing associations and non-profit organizations, directing project and operational activities in finance, revenue development, Board and committee relations, event planning and more. Most of her previous work was in the arts and culture sector. Prior to joining ISAC, Elena worked as a Managing Director with Choirs Ontario (provincial association of choral organizations). Outside of work, most of Elena’s time is taken up by her family. Elena is excited to be making the shift to advocacy sector and join the ISAC team.
ISAC tel: (416) 597-5820
Toll Free: 1 (866) 245-4072
