Leah Shumka
About Leah
Leah (she/her) is a queer cis woman of Ukrainian and British decent who is thankful to have been born and raised on the traditional territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples. A medical anthropologist by education, Leah spent well over two decades working with, for, and alongside folks living in and associated with the sex industry. This work looked at the social determinants of sex worker health, including stigma and violence. This work led to many years volunteering and later working for Peers Victoria, a non-profit dedicated to outreach and support for sex workers in Victoria, BC. It was through her work associated with the sex industry that she began engaging in anti-violence work.
After spending a couple years teaching in Gender Studies at the University of Victoria, Leah shifted her focus and began her career in Equity and Human Rights, where she has variously served in the roles of Manager, Sexualized Prevention and Support, Associate Director, Conflict Engagement and Investigations, and later, Director, Human Rights.
Leah is both a cat and a dog person (shout out to Frankie and Fitz!) who enjoys road tripping with her partner, playing crib and backgammon with her son, and working in her garden.