President: Taras Kulish
Taras Kulish is a bilingual (French/English) graduate of McGill University's Law School. Since 2002, Taras has practiced business law, trademark law and not-for-profit and charity law currently with Mills & Mills LLP. For over 20 years Taras has worked with a diverse clientele: local restaurants, ice cream and juice manufacturers and distributors; local pharmacies; advertising agencies; medical professionals; hospitals; Internet start-ups; Board game creators; Life coaches and public speakers, among other interesting clients.
Taras Kulish is a committed community volunteer and advocate. Since 2001, he has been involved with HOPE worldwide of Canada as a director, president of the board, Country Director, and now as the International Relations Officer responsible for International Giving and Disaster Relief. In 2015, Taras has raised awareness in Canada and funds to support orphans and displaced persons in partnership with HOPE worldwide Ukraine.
Vice-President: Natalia Vandervoort
Natalia Vandervoort is a commercial litigation lawyer whose practice focuses on securities disputes and regulatory investigations. Natalia draws on her experience as in-house counsel at a major financial institution to achieve pragmatic business-minded solutions to complex commercial disputes for her clients.
She has expertise in managing complex securities disputes, including class actions, and working closely with the business and control partners to mitigate litigation and regulatory risk. Natalia also has experience advising on ESG-related litigation risks and conducting internal investigations.
Natalia has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario including the Ontario Court of Justice. Natalia has also appeared before the Ontario Securities Commission, Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA).
Treasurer: Andy Balaura
Andy Balaura practices exclusively in the area of management-side Employment & Labour Law. He advises corporate clients on a wide range of human resource issues, including employee discipline and discharge, employment and consulting contracts, workplace investigations, collective agreement administration, obligations of departing employees, and the statutory obligations of employers pursuant to the Employment Standards Act and Ontario Human Rights Code. He has presented seminars, training programs, and papers on a variety of employment law topics.
Andy has appeared as litigation counsel before the Ontario Courts on wrongful dismissal matters, injunctive proceedings, and occupational health and safety prosecutions. He has represented employer clients before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal and the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. Andy is also active as a member of the Board of Directors of several not-for-profit organizations.
Andriana Ozymtchak is a second year student in the French common law program at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. She is a strong leader in her community and thrives in group collaboration. This is demonstrated through various volunteer groups she is involved with. At the University of Ottawa, she is the current Vice President of the Social Justice Society | Société de justice sociale (SJS). Andriana is a proud Ukrainian Canadian and it is important for her to stay active in the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada. She is the Co-President of the Uottawa Ukrainian Students’ Club this year and the secretary of the Ukrainian Canadian Bar Association. Over the past two years, she has been working alongside a small team of students and lawyers to create their own non-profit organization by the name of The Centre For Eastern European Democracy. She serves as the Editor-In-Chief of the blog which strives to promote Western-European style liberal democracy in Eastern Europe.
Director of Communications: Yuri Chumak
Yuri Chumak is a lawyer, patent agent and trademark agent and has practised exclusively in the area of intellectual property law since 2006. He is a partner with Dickinson Wright LLP in Toronto.
Yuri is a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada and is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the International Trademark Association.
Since 2017, Yuri has been a board member of Ivan Franko Homes where he serves as secretary.
Anna Kuprieieva is a partner at Solvis Law in Ottawa, specializing in business and corporate law, employment, charity law, contracts, and real estate.
With a legal career that spans across Canada and Ukraine, she offers vast experience in corporate governance, transactions, and not-for-profit law. Anna is known for advising a diverse clientele, from local entrepreneurs to multinational corporations.
Her academic credentials include law degrees from Donetsk National University and the University of Ottawa, and she is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Beyond her legal practice, Anna actively contributes to the Ukrainian community in Canada, serving on the board of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and aiding humanitarian projects through the Canada Ukraine Foundation..
Andriy Semotiuk is a U.S. and Canadian immigration lawyer. He is a past President of the Canada Ukraine Foundation, a Forbes Columnist and a former United Nations Correspondent. He is a member of the bars of Ontario, B.C., New York and California.
Olha Senyshyn practices in the areas of immigration and refugee law, family law and civil litigation.
Olha is currently involved in a number of research projects with professors from Osgoode Hall Law School and Carleton University. She also assists in teaching Canadian Contract Law to foreign-trained lawyers and works as a Student Coordinator at Osgoode Business Clinic
Elena Kaminsky is a lawyer specializing in labour and employment law. She has extensive experience advising both employees and employers across Canada, working in-house for energy and healthcare companies as well as in private practice.
Beyond her legal career, Elena is dedicated to community service. She has previously served as a board member for the Rexdale Women’s Centre and has contributed to research initiatives for organizations such as Canadian Lawyers for Ukraine and Canadian Lawyers Against Antisemitism.
Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Andrew Konopelny is a construction lawyer called to the bar in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan. A graduate of Robson Hall, he assists clients with significant construction and infrastructure projects across western Canada. His expertise includes procurement strategies, contract negotiations, and dispute resolution for some of the region's largest projects over the past decade.
Andrew is actively involved in the Ukrainian community, having served on the Board of Trustees for Immaculate Heart of Mary School and the Property Subcommittee for St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Kateryna Korneliuk is a consultant within Bennett Jones’ Energy practice and a member of the Construction and Capital Projects industry teams in Calgary, Alberta. With extensive experience in energy, oil and gas, and capital projects across Ukraine and the European Union, she has a robust background in renewable energy, electricity trading, and construction law.
Before joining Bennett Jones, Kateryna practiced law in Kyiv, Ukraine, for seven years at top-tier law firms. She advised investors and developers in the renewable energy sector, prepared due diligence reports, and managed contracts for wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects. Her expertise also includes consulting on upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas issues, as well as managing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts.
In 2023, Kateryna moved to Canada and joined Bennett Jones. She is currently requalifying to become a lawyer in Canada, having passed six out of eight NCA exams, with plans to begin her articling soon. Passionate about fostering a national network of legal professionals of Ukrainian origin, she is committed to expanding the UCBA’s presence in Alberta and supporting the Ukrainian community.
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Yuliya Kril is an associate lawyer at a boutique law firm in North York, specializing in family law and civil litigation. Before embarking on her legal career, she worked in the teaching field in Spain, enriching her international perspective. Fluent in English and Ukrainian, with conversational proficiency in Polish and Spanish, she brings a multicultural approach to her practice.
Called to the Ontario Bar in early 2023, Yuliya has appeared before the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Justice, and the Small Claims Court. Passionate about her work and a dedicated advocate for Ukraine, she is committed to delivering compassionate and effective representation for her clients.
Igor Kyryliuk is a Canadian immigration lawyer based in Alberta. A graduate of the Faculty of Law (Foreign Trained Lawyers Program) at the University of Calgary, he also holds bachelor's and master's degrees in law from the National University “Odesa Law Academy” in Ukraine. After completing his NCA accreditation and bar admission course, Igor was called to the Alberta Bar and now assists other immigrants in pursuing their Canadian immigration aspirations.
Having personally navigated an eight-year immigration journey through Poland, the USA, and Canada, Igor brings a deep understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants. His legal experience includes working as a laboratory assistant at his alma mater in Ukraine, participating in moot court competitions, and being actively involved in legal research. Fluent in English, Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish, Igor is dedicated to helping others achieve their immigration goals.
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Michael P. Mychailyshyn is in-house counsel at Ukrainian Credit Union Limited, Canada’s largest ethnically Ukrainian full-service financial institution. He also serves on the boards of the Council of Ukrainian Credit Unions of Canada and the World Council of Ukrainian Cooperatives. Michael's legal work primarily focuses on corporate legal affairs, banking, regulatory compliance, privacy matters, and government relations. Prior to his move in-house, he practiced law privately for six years.
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Olena Shkarovska is Associate Counsel with York Region, specializing in construction law. She brings a robust legal background from her previous roles as Assistant Town Solicitor in Innisfil, an articling student at Tribunals Ontario, and a policy and procedures writer at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Olena also contributes to legal education by teaching future law clerks and paralegals at Georgian College and Centennial College.
Active in the Ontario Bar Association's Municipal Law Section, she combines her professional expertise with a commitment to community service, including volunteer support for Ukrainian newcomers to Canada.
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Based in Montréal, Québec, Adelia Shwec is a trilingual lawyer fluent in English, French, and Ukrainian. A graduate of the University of Ottawa, she holds both a Licentiate in Laws (LL.L.)—Civil Law Jurisdiction—and a Juris Doctor (J.D.)—Common Law Jurisdiction. Adelia also earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from McGill University and completed a certificate at Harvard Law School. She is a member of the Québec Bar.
Adelia has experience in litigation and has appeared before several courts in Québec, including the Superior Court of Québec, the Court of Québec, the Tribunal Administratif du Québec, and the Tribunal Administratif du Logement. She is actively involved in the Ukrainian community, serving on the boards of numerous non-profit Ukrainian organizations and associations.
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Immediate Past President: Alesia Nahirny, JD MA CAMS
Alesia Nahirny is Counsel at Department of Justice. Alesia was previously overseeing financial crimes risk for Scotiabank including anti-money laundering, sanctions, fraud and anti-bribery and corruption risks as well as providing advisory services on sanctions regulatory requirements and leading the development and execution of strategy relating to sanctions risk assessment of new products and initiatives. She has more than ten years of professional experience having worked as the Executive Director of Transparency International Canada, the Department of Justice Canada, and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Alesia obtained her law degree from the University of Ottawa and has a Bachelor’s in International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies and a Master’s degree in anti-corruption from the University of Toronto.
Past President: Jason Woycheshyn
Jason Woycheshyn's practice is focused on complex litigation including corporate commercial disputes, securities litigation, fraud investigations and recovery and professional negligence matters. Jason has experience before all courts in Ontario and Alberta, as well as a number of administrative and regulatory boards and tribunals. He has experience in securities regulatory and enforcement matters, shareholder and partnership disputes, auditors' and accountants' liability, directors' and officers' liability, oppression proceedings, derivative actions, and class proceedings. As part of his fraud law practice, Jason has experience in obtaining Mareva injunctions, Norwich Pharmacal orders, Anton Piller orders and assisting in fraud investigations. Jason has special expertise in e-discovery and record management issues in complex litigation and is often asked to lecture on these topics.
Advisory Committee Member: Eugene Zalucky
Founding Partner, Mitchell Bardyn & Zalucky LLP, 1973 Call.
Advisory Committee Member: Alexandra Chyczij
Alexandra Chyczij was first unanimously elected and sworn in as President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) on December 8, 2018 and subsequently re-elected by delegates at the XXVI UCC Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians in November 2019. Previously, she served as 1st Vice President of the UCC.
Alexandra Chyczij is a committed leader, activist and volunteer, dedicating her efforts to serving the Ukrainian community in Canada. The UCC coordinates and represents the interests of one of Canada’s largest ethnocultural communities (1.35 million).
Alexandra Chyczij is the Executive Director of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA), the national voice of in-house counsel in Canada. With a membership more than 5000-strong, the CCCA is a section of the Canadian Bar Association.
For many years, Alexandra has worked with the UCC and the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association on legal issues, advocating for matters affecting the administration of justice, rule of law, human and civil rights.
She has conducted research and advocated for recognition of the Holodomor (Ukrainian Famine) as a genocide and for recognition of the unjust internment of Ukrainian Canadians and others in Canada’s first national internment operations during WWI.
Alexandra was co-counsel with Justice John Sopinka on the International Commission of Inquiry into the 1932-33 Famine in Ukraine, convened by the World Congress of (Free) Ukrainians in 1988, whose report was delivered to the United Nations.
Advisory Committee Member: Eugene Czolij
Eugene Czolij was called to the Quebec Bar in 1982 and is a senior partner at Lavery, de Billy, one of the largest law firms in Quebec. His legal practice includes corporate and commercial litigation, as well as insolvency and financial restructuring law. He pleads before the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as all court levels in Quebec. Since 2012, he has been listed by Best Lawyers in Canada in his areas of practice.
In 2016, Eugene received an honorary doctorate from Lviv Polytechnic National University in Ukraine for his contribution to promoting Ukraine’s interests and its Euro-integration. In 2019, he received an honorary doctorate from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine for his outstanding achievements as a community leader.
In 2020, he was appointed Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal.
Since 1993, Eugene has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian World Congress, and President from 2008 to 2018. In 2019, he was the Head of the Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
Since 1994, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and President from 1998 to 2004.
Since 2019, he has been President of the NGO “Ukraine-2050”, a non-profit organization established to help implement, within one generation – by 2050 – strategies for the sustainable development of Ukraine as a fully independent, territorially integral, democratic, reformed and economically competitive European state.
Since 2019, he has also been President of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of Canada, a not-for-profit corporation that supports the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine and students of Ukrainian origin attending post-secondary institutions in Canada.
Since 2004, Eugene has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Caisse populaire Desjardins Ukrainienne de Montréal, and President from 2006 to 2019. Since 2006, he has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Council of Ukrainian Credit Unions of Canada.