Chief Justice Len Marchand
KEYNOTE: Chief Justice Len Marchand is Syilx and has dedicated much of his legal career to advancing reconciliation. After earning a B.A.Sc. from the University of British Columbia in 1986 and working in industry, he completed his law degree at the University of Victoria in 1994 and was called to the B.C. Bar in 1995. He later joined the bars of the Yukon and Northwest Territories in 2006. As a lawyer, he played a pivotal role in negotiating the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and served on the Selection Committee for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Appointed to the Provincial Court of B.C. in 2013, he presided over the Cknucwentn Court in Kamloops, working closely with Elders to develop culturally grounded healing plans for Indigenous offenders. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of B.C. in 2017, the Courts of Appeal for B.C. and Yukon in 2021, and became Chief Justice of both courts in December 2023.
Justice Vui Clarence Nelson
PANELIST: Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, a Samoan-born matai, is the Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Samoa and a leading advocate for human rights and judicial reform, particularly in support of children. He was the driving force behind Samoa’s Youth Court, the Olomanu Centre for youth rehabilitation, and key legislation such as the Young Offenders Act, the Community Justice Act, and the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2017. He also helped establish the Samoa Victim Support Group, supporting survivors of gender-based violence and child abuse. Justice Vui is internationally recognised for his work with UNICEF Pacific and was the first and only Pacific Islander to serve on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, including as Vice-Chair. Honoured by his alma mater for his outstanding contributions, he continues to shape justice and child protection in Samoa and across the Pacific.
Corin Merrick
PANELIST: Corin Merrick (Ngāti Whare, Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa) is a Barrister sole at Matariki Chambers in South Auckland, with a strong foundation in te reo Māori and tikanga, having been educated through Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, and Te Panekiretanga o te Reo. She specialises in family law and is regularly appointed as counsel for child and counsel to assist in complex cases, particularly where law intersects with tikanga Māori. Corin also works in the Youth Court and Te Kōti Rangatahi and is on the Central Authority’s panel for Hague Convention child abduction cases. She is a lead advisor to the Pou Tangata justice iwi leaders’ group and a passionate advocate for reform in the care and protection system. Corin is co-author of Kia Kākano Rua Te Ture, a te reo Māori legal handbook, and teaches courtroom advocacy in te reo Māori through Kura Rōia. As director of Te Korimako Legal Education, she supports iwi and Māori providers with legal training. A trustee of Kotahi Rau Pukapuka, she has translated several titles into te reo Māori, including works by Maya Angelou.