Maddy Toca is General Counsel and Secretary to the Board, providing leadership and oversight for all legal matters related to the organization, including governance and compliance matters.

Prior to being appointed to this role, Maddy acted as legal counsel for Grand Challenges Canada (GCC). Maddy was responsible for deal structuring and negotiation with respect to grant and non-grant financing, as well as providing advice to senior management on legal matters.

Prior to joining GCC, Maddy spent time as in-house counsel at a global financial technology company, as well as in private practice with a focus on health law and civil litigation. Her experience includes working on gender equality and socioeconomic rights issues in various roles, including with the Adviser on Human Trafficking at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, where she monitored and assisted with the implementation of the OHCHR Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking.

Maddy holds a B.A. (Honours) from McGill University, and a J.D. from Queen’s University, and she is called to the Bar of Ontario. Maddy continues to contribute her time to causes both at home and abroad, having previously served on the Board of Directors of Skills for Change, a non-profit focused on building welcoming and equitable communities and employment opportunities for immigrants looking to enter the Ontario job market.