Best song that describes you: Dreamer by Supertramp

Superpower: Salad-making

Shelan Markus is a dedicated advocate for justice, equity, and human rights, serving as the Executive Director of Level, a leading national charity committed to justice education and human rights. In this role, she has been instrumental in developing programs that support Indigenous and Black youth, environmental activists, law students, and legal professionals, aiming to dismantle barriers to justice and foster a more inclusive society.​

Her significant contributions to the legal field were recognized in 2024 when she was honoured as a Lexpert Rising Star, celebrating Canada's leading lawyers under 40. She was also a finalist for the 2024 Charity Village Most Outstanding Individual Impact Award.

Shelan holds a Juris Doctor from Western University and a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from McGill University. She further specialized in international human rights law at the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research in India. In 2025, she will complete the Women’s Executive Leadership Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Her legal career includes practice at a boutique litigation firm in Toronto and serving as a lawyer and contracts officer at the University of British Columbia. ​

Beyond her legal career, Shelan is an accomplished art photographer and entrepreneur. She founded City and She, a philanthropic print business supporting human rights, animal rights, and environmental initiatives worldwide. Additionally, she established "How She Made This," a talk series offering insights from women-identifying, transfeminine, and gender-diverse entrepreneurs. ​

As a second-generation Canadian of mixed Middle Eastern and Eastern European heritage, Shelan's diverse background enriches her perspective and dedication to social justice and education, inspiring meaningful change and connection in communities across Canada.

Email Shelan: shelan@leveljustice.org