New ombudsperson Amy Fish
“One of the aspects of Amy’s candidacy that impressed me is her experience in the public sector as well as her ability to effectively deal with conflict,” says Norman Hébert, Jr., chair of the Board of Governors.
“I’m excited by the opportunity to play a central role in service of the Concordia community and inspired by the warm welcome that I’ve received,” says Fish. “I look forward to building on the office’s established reputation for excellence.”
An accomplished author and speaker on the topic of conflict resolution, Fish served as ombudsperson at the Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre and the Jewish Eldercare Centre where she investigated complex patient and family complaints. As a facilitator and trainer at Maimonides, she also led workshops for its managers and front-line staff, which received recognition.
She also worked in private practice helping numerous corporate clients further improve their customer service and the overall client experience.
As part of her mandate, she’ll ensure that the Ombuds Office continues to provide impartial and confidential service to all members of the Concordia community.
Fish joins the university following Kristen Robillard’s announcement that she would step down after serving as Concordia’s ombudsperson for more than 15 years.
During the transition period Julie Boncompain served as interim ombudsperson, ensuring professional continuity of the office’s functioning.
As one of the first Canadian universities to establish an Ombuds Office in the 1970s, Concordia has a steadfast and proud history of informal dispute resolution.
The Ombuds Office, which celebrated its 35th year of operations in November 2014, now supports nearly 500 members of its community each year. It functions independently of the university’s administrative structure.
