Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Publications
Voluntary Experience
Generic

Cleopatra Gooden-Simms

Brampton,Canada

Summary

Dynamic Senior Management professional recognized for crafting and executing innovative strategies that leverage changing market conditions. Proven ability to drive organizational growth through strategic planning and transformational leadership. Exceptional communication skills facilitate effective collaboration across teams, ensuring alignment with corporate vision. Committed to embracing new challenges that foster continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work History

Program Manager/Legal Worker

Legal Aid Ontario
Toronto, Canada
12.2012 - Current
  • Perform community outreach and training.
  • Liaise with stakeholders in order to enhance awareness of available services for persons in need of legal services
  • Reviewed customer feedbacks on a regular basis in order to identify potential areas of improvement in service delivery.
  • Interview and triage clients an average of 300 clients each week who require the services of Legal Aid Ontario for criminal, civil and immigration matters and make entitlement decisions based on legal and financial information obtained from the client
  • Developed and maintained project plans, schedules, and budgets.
  • Prepare Affidavits and other legal documents for clients

Manager, HR & Operations – Mona Information Technology Services

The University of the West Indies
Mona
09.2005 - 12.2012
  • Recruitment and Training of full time part time and contractual employees and Interns
  • Supervision of Administrative and Clerical staff and report writing
  • Events Management – planning training sessions, seminars, conferences, team building events, meetings etc
  • Liaising with the Students Loan Bureau, other departments and the general public on matters related to scholarships, bursaries and grants
  • UWI Company Administrator, Skillsoft online Learning systems

Principal

Solid Base Group of Schools
Spanish Town, St. Catherine
09.2009 - 06.2012
  • Directed the implementation of district initiatives such as Response to Intervention program, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports system and 1, 1 technology integration plan.
  • Communicated regularly with parents about their children's academic progress.
  • Managed budgeting process for school operations and allocated resources accordingly.
  • Created an environment where all students feel valued regardless of their background or cultural identity.

Teacher

Solid Base Group of Schools
Spanish Town, St, Catherine
01.2000 - 08.2009
  • Staff, university and pre-university (high school) students aged 14 – 18 years old
  • Planned field trips to enrich students' educational experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting.
  • Monitored student behavior in classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, playgrounds.
  • Preparation of unit and lesson plans, ongoing assessment instruments, attendance registers and activities for classes
  • Incorporated the use of technology in classes through such means as PowerPoint presentations, Smart board and online assessments
  • Conducted workshops aimed at improving comprehension and writing skills

Banker

National Commercial Bank
03.1995 - 12.1999
  • Held positions of Senior Foreign Exchange Officer, Teller, Audit & Savings Clerk, Customer Service Representative etc

Education

Ph.D. - Organizational Leadership

Concordia University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, USA
08-2025

Master of Laws - Canadian Common Law

York University
Toronto, ON
03-2025

Master of Laws - Business Law

York University, Osgoode Hall Law School
01.2021

Course completed - Human Resources

Sheridan College/ACCES Employment
01.2014

Certificate of Qualification - Business Studies (Intermediate and Senior)

Ontario College of Teachers
Ontario
01.2013

Florida Teacher Certifications - English Grades 6-12 & Professional Education Test

Florida Department of Education
USA
10.2007

Master of Science Degree - Government (Public Administration/Management)

The University of the West Indies
01.2005

Post-graduate Diploma (Honours) - Education and Training

Vocational Training Development Institute
01.2005

Bachelor of Science Degree (Honours) - International Relations, Political Science

The University of the West Indies
01.2001

Diploma - Business Administration General

Excelsior Community College
01.1994

Skills

  • Professional writing
  • Program performance analysis
  • Vendor sourcing
  • Property & material management
  • Change management
  • Strategic planning
  • Team training and development
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Operations management

Timeline

Program Manager/Legal Worker

Legal Aid Ontario
12.2012 - Current

Principal

Solid Base Group of Schools
09.2009 - 06.2012

Manager, HR & Operations – Mona Information Technology Services

The University of the West Indies
09.2005 - 12.2012

Teacher

Solid Base Group of Schools
01.2000 - 08.2009

Banker

National Commercial Bank
03.1995 - 12.1999

Ph.D. - Organizational Leadership

Concordia University Chicago

Master of Laws - Canadian Common Law

York University

Master of Laws - Business Law

York University, Osgoode Hall Law School

Course completed - Human Resources

Sheridan College/ACCES Employment

Certificate of Qualification - Business Studies (Intermediate and Senior)

Ontario College of Teachers

Florida Teacher Certifications - English Grades 6-12 & Professional Education Test

Florida Department of Education

Master of Science Degree - Government (Public Administration/Management)

The University of the West Indies

Post-graduate Diploma (Honours) - Education and Training

Vocational Training Development Institute

Bachelor of Science Degree (Honours) - International Relations, Political Science

The University of the West Indies

Diploma - Business Administration General

Excelsior Community College

Publications

  • A critical analysis of Education’s role in averting criminal behaviour in three Toronto Housing Corporation enclaves, 2012
  • The Effect of Improvement in the Jamaican educational system on the political behaviour of the poor: The Rise of accountability & the fall of partisan politics?, 2009
  • An Evaluation of the Programme for Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) in the alleviation of Poverty in Jamaica, 2004
  • The Impact of the Agents of Political Socialization on the voting preferences of finalizing undergraduate U.W.I. Students, 1999

Voluntary Experience

  • Board Member/Member of the Board of Directors, Condominium Corporation, Peel Region, 2013 - Present
  • Marketing and Outreach Executive Member, NAC, Brampton, 2011 - 2013
  • Board Member, The Social Investment Fund, 2007 - 2010
  • Vice President, Women of Vision, 2005 - 2007
  • Teacher, Mona Rehabilitation Foundation, 2004 - 2009
Cleopatra Gooden-Simms