Audrey Ackah will join the University of the Fraser Valley on May 2 in the newly created position of General Counsel and will report to the President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Joanne MacLean. As principal legal officer for the University, Ackah will provide legal counsel and advice to the UFV board of governors, president, and senior management.

Ackah has extensive experience as a trusted advisor in the educational sector on legal, governance, and policy matters. Most recently in her role as Legal Counsel and Privacy Officer at the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA), Ackah provided legal and policy advice to public school boards, school district senior staff, association staff, committees, and the BCSTA board of directors. She has experience in a variety of areas of law including education, human rights, administrative, contract, labour, information, and privacy law.

“I’m very pleased to have a person with Audrey’s invaluable expertise, leadership ability, and career experience join us in this new and important role at UFV. Her background in education-related policy and issues, in addition to her experience practising in the private legal sector, will be great assets for the university.”

In her role as the leader of the BCSTA’s legal department, Ackah had a variety of responsibilities including managing and mentoring legal support staff, developing and managing the legal department finances, managing external counsel, and identifying technology and other resources to support the work of the legal services department. She supported the board of directors of the association on legal and risk management issues. Ackah also represented the association on provincial government committees related to education, risk management, and local government elections.

“I’m really excited to be joining an organization with an incredible team that is dedicated to serving students and the broader Fraser Valley community. I look forward to contributing to the university as it continues to transform itself and the lives of students in our region.”

Ackah is originally from the west coast and prior to her work with the BCSTA, she practised law with the Law Society of British Columbia’s professional conduct department and the law firm of Harris & Company.

She received her law degree from the University of Toronto and her Master of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in the same discipline from the University of BC.