shelley ball

“You can expect fairness, dignity, and transparency about the investigation process.”

I’m a lawyer with 19 years of collective investigation experience, before and after becoming a lawyer, working in government oversight, independent provincial offices, post-secondary, regulation, and union environments.

Over the course of my career, I have directed, overseen, and conducted investigations involving:

  • sexual misconduct

  • discrimination

  • respectful workplace complaints

  • systemic and oversight investigation of child deaths and injuries

  • human remains identification

  • financial regulation

I have also developed recommendations for workplaces as well as systemic policy and legislative change.

My experience includes roles as senior in-house regulatory counsel, as a director of investigations, and as a litigator, as well as certification and experience as a restorative justice facilitator. I am currently an appointed member of the Patient Care Quality Review Board of British Columbia, and a faculty member with Continuing Education Inc.

I am often invited to speak about sexual misconduct, investigations, empathic and trauma-informed practices, as well as risks associated with complaints, and prevention. I’m an advisory committee member with the Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation and an advisor for Forensic Guardians International.

presentations, public reports and content creation

Master Class Workshop: “How to care for the team that deals with traumatic matters” Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation (CNAR), Ottawa, Ontario (2024)

“Trauma-informed training” BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP), Vancouver BC (2024)

“Leading with Dignity: Trauma-informed policy in sexual misconduct and humanitarian investigations” International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH), Barcelona, Spain (2024)

“I came in like a Wrecking Ball...the costs and consequences of being a bully leader” IALMH, Barcelona, Spain (2024)

“Legal Issues of misconduct in healthcare” University at Sea and Continuing Education Inc. (2024)

“Walking the regulatory tightrope: being fair to all parties in sexual misconduct complaints” Council on Licensure Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) Annual Education Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA (2023)

“Trauma-informed training” Inquiry Committee, BCCOHP, Vancouver, BC (2022)

“Fundamentals of Regulation Workshop: Complaints, Investigations, Discipline and Fitness to Practice” CNAR, Charlottetown, PEI (2022)

“Achieving regulatory excellence through understanding vulnerability and leading with compassion in oral health regulation” IALMH, Lyon, France (2022)

“Trauma-informed Decision-making” Discipline Committee, College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC) (2022)

“Trauma-informed Approaches in Sexual Misconduct Investigations” Investigations team, CDSBC (2021)

“The UBC Investigations Office” multiple presentations to the Committee of Deans, Associate Deans Committee, Faculty of Medicine (2020-21)

“The UBC Investigations Office”, Informational video (co-creator) (2021) (YouTube)

“The Evolution of Institutional Responsiveness in Sexual Misconduct Investigations at the University of British Columbia: A Transformative Approach to Sexual Misconduct on Campus” (Panel lead) UBC’s Investigations Office, IALMH Rome, Italy (2019)

“Procedural Fairness and Sexual Misconduct Investigations in a Civil Context” (co-author), IALMH Rome, Italy (2019)

I have also been the lead and senior investigator on several publicly released investigation reports issued by an Independent Officer of the British Columbia Legislature:

  • “Approach with Caution: why the story of one vulnerable youth can’t be told” (2015)

  • “Children at Risk: the case for a better response to parental addiction” (2013)

  • “Honouring Kaitlynne, Max and Cordon: Make their voices heard now” (2012)

  • “So Many Plans, So Little Stability: A child’s need for security” (2011)

  • “Fragile Lives, Fragmented Systems: Strengthening supports for vulnerable infants” (2011)

  • “Housing, Help and Hope: A better path for struggling families” (2011)