Karen Gray is the Director of Individual Advocacy and Investigations at the the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate and has been in this position since 2011; a role that inspires and motivates her to work on behalf of children and youth in Newfoundland and Labrador. Karen has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), a Bachelor of Social Work, a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Certificate in the Graduate Program of Teaching. She has been a registered Social Worker in Newfoundland and Labrador since 1993. She has spent more than 30 years providing services to children, youth, families, and communities. She has worked in various capacities including frontline, research, evaluation, education and management roles. She has held positions in government departments, community health boards, Memorial University and community development. As a field instructor, Karen has supervised more than 25 social work students in a variety of program areas in both the Bachelor of Social Work Program and the Master of Social Work Program.

Karen’s career and social work practice has been rooted in improving the circumstances of children, youth and families, as well as the protection of children’s and youth’s rights. Karen embodies a spirt of optimism and fosters hope in others.

Karen enjoys participating in a variety of sports, including volleyball, basketball and golf.

Wilma MacInnis is the Director of Strategic Services and Outreach at the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate and has been in this position since 2018; a role she thoroughly enjoys, especially the outreach in the community with children, youth and community groups. Wilma holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master’s degree in Social Work. She has been a registered Social Worker in Newfoundland and Labrador since 1993. Wilma has worked in various capacities, including frontline, quality assurance, and management roles. She has served as a Victim Services Regional Coordinator, Provincial Manager of Victim Services, Program and Policy Development Specialist, Director of Quality Assurance, Provincial Director of Family Justice Services and the Director of Court Services with the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. Wilma was the inaugural social worker in the province for the Huntington Society of Canada and was in that role for four years.

Wilma’s career and social work practice has always been rooted in building strong and respectful working relationships with others. She lives by this famous Maya Angelou quote:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Over the years, Wilma has volunteered as a soccer and basketball coach and served as a volunteer Board member of a youth organization. Wilma is passionate about health and wellness; she is a regular at boot camp classes and most recently has taken up running in her “spare” time.