Vice-Chairpersons
Jude Samson, LLB, BSocSc, interim vice-chairperson, Appeal Division
Jude Samson became interim vice-chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada – Appeal Division, effective January 30, 2023.
Mr. Samson was first appointed to the Tribunal’s Income Security Section in 2015. Two years later, he was appointed to the Appeal Division. Previously, Mr. Samson worked as a lawyer in private practice and as a consultant. He has lived and worked throughout Canada and abroad. Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Samson also worked as a personal support worker, driver, and cook.
Mr. Samson is bilingual and holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours Economics) from the University of Ottawa.
Thomas Vulpe, BA, vice-chairperson, General Division - Income Security
Thomas Vulpe was appointed vice-chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada – Income Security Section as of June 22, 2019.
Thomas has 30 years of experience realizing transformations in the private, public and non-governmental sectors through vision, innovation, and sound management. For the past 10 years, he held various key leadership roles related to the adjudication of refugee claims in Canada, as well as the transformation of Canada’s refugee determination system at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Thomas is bilingual and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and a Certificate in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University.
Sylvie Charron, BSc, MBA, LLB, LLL, vice-chairperson, General Division – Employment Insurance
Sylvie was appointed vice-chairperson of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada – Employment Insurance Section as of June 10, 2019 and renewed on July 1, 2021.
Ms. Charron is a lawyer with almost a decade of tribunal experience with the Social Justice Tribunals of Ontario and Social Benefits Tribunal of Ontario. She also has teaching experience at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, preparing and delivering intellectual property material. In addition, she was a member of the Copyright Board of Canada for 10 years.
Ms. Charron is bilingual and holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Licentiate in Law from the University of Ottawa. She has been a member of the Ontario Bar since 1994.