Martin Ostensen

Martin was the inaugural leader of Legal Aid Alberta's (LAA) Legal Services Centres, and successfully directed the change in LAA's business model. He led a 128-member business unit to provide high quality first point of contact service. Prior to that, as managing lawyer at Alberta Law Line, he managed the 28- person legal service center, and successfully built Canada's first legal aid web-based channel. In addition, he maintained operational integrity in legal hotline operations, and ensured that client satisfaction exceeded program benchmarks.

For LAA, Martin provided operational support, including budget development and compliance, human resources and training, stakeholder relations, and policy development, to deliver high performing client service. He was a key driver of LAA's business analytics development.  He was the project manager for LAA's Criminal Resolution Unit, which successfully worked with the Crown, the judiciary, staff and clients to shorten resolution times by 75% and effect cost savings over three years that approached $1Million. He was a recipient of the 2011 Alberta Premier’s Medal of Excellence for his work in the team that supported Alberta Justice’s Self-Represented Litigants Initiative.

Martin has provided volunteer leadership to two school boards, a public library, three minor sports organizations, and a political party at the district level. Martin has taught Business Law at a community college. He believes strongly in investing in young people, and making a difference in quality of life opportunities in a community.

Martin holds a Masters in Health Administration degree from UNTHSC, Masters in Business Administration degrees from Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.) and Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario), and holds Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, B.C.). 

Martin was the 2015 recipient of the Rischard S. Kurz Award given annually to an outstanding SPH graduate who emulates the leadership, accomplishments and visionary qualities of Dean Kurz. 

Martin was a 2015 inductee into the Delta Omega National Honorary Society for Public Health based on demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and commitment to the field of public health, and Martin was on the Dean’s List. 

Born in Oslo, Norway, Martin completed his public schooling in Melbourne, Australia and Powell River, B.C.

His career objectives are to engage clients in ethical decision-making, to achieve justice for clients.

Throughout his career, Martin provided strong and decisive leadership with top management performance that delivered results. He provides advocacy and leadership with integrity, perspective and purpose, delivered with confidence and care.