The NSBS Council has approved the appointment of three new Public Representatives to join their ranks: Kehinde Akintola, Betty Thomas, and John MacGillis.
The Society’s Public Representatives are valued members of Council who bring their varied expertise and insight to the table and ensure the public’s perspective is reflected in Council’s decision-making. Public Representatives have full voting rights on Council and sit on several of our committees.
Thank you to all those who expressed interest in the openings. We wish all the best to our new appointees.
Learn more about our newest Public Representatives below.
Recently Appointed Public Representatives
Kehinde Akintola
Kehinde Akintola is a manager in the correctional services division (CSD) of the Nova Scotia government’s Department of Justice. He is an internationally qualified lawyer who started his legal career in 2009 as a Crown Prosecutor in Nigeria, and has overtime gathered cognate professional experience in the field of law, legal research, law enforcement, and management, spanning across three countries (Nigeria, UK, and Canada).
Having worked in private law firms in Ottawa, he currently executes the DOJ’s custodial policies and helps implement correctional initiatives that are strategically aligned with government priorities, which has won him the prestigious CNSCF Superintendent’s Award for Professionalism & Courage.
He holds a 2008 Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) honors degree from the University of Lagos in Nigeria, a postgraduate law degree from the Nigerian Law School, and a Bar qualification as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He obtained his Master of Laws (LL.M) with a ‘dissertation-distinction’ from the Robert Gordon University in Scotland, UK, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Lancashire, England UK, and a graduate research training from Cardiff Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
Kehinde is a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, a Canadian qualified mediator (Q. Med) and a Human Rights Educator for the Nova Scotia Department of Justice. He was appointed to serve on the Dalhousie University Research Ethics Board and recently appointed by the Halifax Regional Council to serve on the African Descent Advisory Committee.
Betty Thomas
Betty Thomas was born in the historical African Nova Scotian Community of East Preston in HRM. From producing and hosting the “Equality Issues” TV program to extensive experience as a Board Member, Chair for Non-Profits, and Provincial Government Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABC’s), Betty continues to make an impact in the community through public service.
In 2007 after 911, Betty gave a compelling presentation to Halifax Regional Council with the presence of persons affected during Racial Profiling by the Halifax Regional Police in HRM, which resulted in thorough investigation and positive actions. At the time she was Chair of the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Community and Race Relations Advisory Committee.
Betty’s nine-year experience as a Public Member includes serving as a key decision-maker and team member ensuring Board Governance compliance and upholding protection of the public interest during the creation of “one Nursing Regulator in Nova Scotia’ the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) and the recent creation of the Amalgamated Nova Scotia Regulator of Dental Hygiene, Dental Technology and Denturists (NSRDHDTD).
Betty currently serves as Public Representative on the Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians Board; Vice-Chair of the NSRDHDTD Board; Lay Member on the N. S. Advisory Committees on Adjudicative Boards and the Citizen’s Screening Panels on Non-Adjudicative Boards; and NSCN Regulatory Committee. She is also an Administrative Justice of the Peace officiating Civil Marriage Ceremonies in Nova Scotia.
John MacGillis
John MacGillis serves as the Director of Growth at MacGillivray Injury Law, where he oversees initiatives that integrate data-driven strategy and emerging technology to advance the firm’s operations and client service. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Carleton University, with a concentration in ethics and technology, and leads the development of AI-based tools designed to support lawyers in their workflow and enhance organizational efficiency.