Fenessa was raised in the North-end of Halifax and is a proud descendant of the historic African Nova Scotian community of Upper Hammonds Plains. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dalhousie University in Sociology and Social Anthropology with a minor in Law, Justice & Society. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University and is an alumna of the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq (IB&M) Initiative. Upon graduation, she received the Judge Corrine Sparks Award in recognition of her leadership and commitment to community service.

After articling with Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Fenessa was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2020. She has since practiced in the areas of criminal, family, and child welfare law, gaining experience at both Nova Scotia Legal Aid and a boutique private law firm. In 2024, she joined the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute, where she currently serves as Acting Legal Services Director.

Throughout her education and career, Fenessa has remained deeply committed to mentorship, advocacy, and social justice.  She is committed to giving back to her community and believes in the importance of lifting as she climbs. Fenessa currently sits on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Family Law Standards Committee, the IB&M Advisory Council and Standing Committee, the Dalhousie Legal Aid Board of Trustees and is actively involved in her faith community at her home church, EBC: The Meeting Place.