From: Laura Bradbury, Executive Director, Office of Safety and High Risk
Date: August 8, 2024
Re: Staffing Announcement – Office of Safety and High Risk

Dear Colleagues,

After an extensive recruitment, I am pleased to announce the hire of a new leader and senior advisor who will be joining the team in the Office of Safety and High Risk, effective September 3, 2024.

Shaun Narine – Director, High Risk and Divisional Support – shaun.narine@utoronto.ca

Shaun joins us as a senior strategic leader with a robust background in community safety, emergency management, and crisis response, with a proven skill for advancing equity, unifying groups, and achieving results. Shaun is known for valuing personal engagement, relationship-building, and inclusivity and has extensive experience managing large-scale events and high-risk incidents. He brings critical expertise in crisis communications and reputation management to the University. As a trusted advisor, he has provided guidance on public order and community safety to high-profile leaders across all levels of corporate, community, and governmental organizations. In addition to having engaged in significant work with numerous post-secondary academic institutions throughout his career, Shaun holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph and has served as a subject matter expert Instructor at Humber College.

In his dynamic career with the Toronto Police Service, Shaun held the rank of Superintendent and oversaw the Emergency Management and Public Order Unit. Responsible for city-wide safety strategies and crisis response, he managed the operational planning for large-scale Toronto events such as the Caribbean Carnival and Pride Parades, integrating logistical management with sensitive reputation handling. Additionally, Shaun served as the Chief-appointed Disciplinary Hearings Officer, overseeing disciplinary proceedings within the service. His varied investigative roles include overseeing the Behavioural Assessment Section of the Sex Crimes Unit, developing expertise and a comprehensive understanding of the complexity and intersectionality of issues and cases that he will be supporting in his new role. Recognized with multiple service awards, including the Police Exemplary Service Medal in 2020, he has actively promoted equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism within the Toronto Police Service, drawing from his own lived experiences to identify and dismantle systemic barriers affecting marginalized groups.

Shaun brings a robust network of strategic partnerships with government, law enforcement, and private organizations with him to the University, cultivated through extensive committee and volunteer work. As the former Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific Community Consultative Committee and Chair of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police – Emergency Preparedness Committee and Provincial Public Order Hub, Shaun has demonstrated a nuanced understanding of high-risk scenarios and a record of leveraging collaborative partnerships for fair and equitable outcomes. His leadership has been pivotal in enhancing community safety, managing high-stakes crisis situations, and ensuring compliance with relevant policies and protocols.

Shaun looks forward to joining the University of Toronto community, where he can utilize his knowledge and experience within our globally recognized post-secondary environment. Embodying curiosity, innovation, and lifelong learning, he is committed to mentorship and believes in diverse paths and experiences shaping effective leadership. He is a champion of community outreach with a record of establishing initiatives that bridge gaps in order to facilitate a culture of safety and inclusion that aligns with the University’s dedication to fostering a secure and supportive environment for students, staff, and faculty.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Shaun to the University of Toronto.