Patrice Barnes is a Senior Advisor at Counsel Public Affairs, based in Toronto.

Patrice brings a distinguished legacy of public service, education leadership, and community advocacy. With a career rooted in equity-driven policy development and stakeholder engagement, she now empowers organizations to navigate complex policy environments and build impactful strategies.

As the former Member of Provincial Parliament for Ajax, Patrice held several roles, including Parliamentary Assistant to both the Minister of Education and the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. She served as Second Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House and was an active contributor to the Social Policy Committee, where she helped shape legislation addressing critical social challenges across Ontario. Her commitment to economic resilience and fiscal responsibility was further demonstrated through her participation in the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee, where she contributed to budgetary reviews and economic policy discussions affecting communities province-wide.

Patrice’s leadership in public education spans nearly a decade as a Public-School Trustee with the Durham District School Board. As Chair of the Education Finance Committee and Vice-Chair of the Board, she championed inclusive education and spearheaded initiatives that uplifted Black students and marginalized communities.

Her influence reaches beyond local boundaries through her work with the Ontario Public School Board Association, the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan, and the Canadian School Board Association Antiracism Workgroup. Her unwavering commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and fostering equity has earned her accolades, including the Durham Black History Month Madiba Awards and the Universal Womens Network’s Black Woman Leader Award.