Chair Brodie Lewis Expand Brodie Lewis Brodie is currently the Business Manager for the Albany Community Legal Centre (ACLC), and has been working in the Community Legal sector for the last five years. Like many of our CLCs, Albany CLC provides community focused services beyond only legal advice, with a range of advocacy services assisting tenants, as well as people with disabilities and mental health issues. Prior to joining ACLC Brodie worked with a range of non-profit organisations assisting with digital transformation, governance and policy development. The Community Legal sector exists to help the marginalised in our communities. It is our sense of place that underpins the passion, resourcefulness and commitment of our people - staff, volunteers and our various boards. Community Legal WA is our collected expression of this passion and commitment. I am excited to be able to contribute to Community Legal WA in this role. Business Manager, Albany Community Legal Centre
Deputy Chair Sarah Patterson Expand Sarah Patterson I am consistently surprised by the amazing work that this sector can achieve with minimal resources, skeleton staff, and consistent uncertainty around viability and sustainability. But we do. In fact we thrive! I believe that our success is due to the passion and commitment of our members, and strong, committed governance that supports the sector to implement best practice models, work collaboratively, and leverage new opportunities for growth and success. I am currently the Chief Executive Officer of Midlas, a CLC in Midland, and hold undergraduate degrees in Communication and Culture, and a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership. I have specialised in strategic planning, governance, and organisational culture and am excited to share these skills and experience with the other members of the Board and work collaboratively for the benefit of the sector as a whole. CEO, Midland Information, Debt and Legal Advocacy Service (Midlas)
Treasurer Carol Child Expand Carol Child, Treasurer Carol Child is a UK qualified accountant with over 30 years of experience. She worked for a decade in the financial sector in London and for the last 20 years in the not for profit sector in Western Australia as a financial controller. As Executive Manager, she is responsible for maintenance of all the organisations financial records including payroll, monthly budgets, management accounts to the Board and the annual audit of the financial accounts. She also oversees corporate governance, human resource management and is responsible for ensuring the office administration runs smoothly. General Manager, Consumer Credit Legal Service WA
Member Asha Bhat Expand Asha Bhat Asha Bhat leads the award-winning regional Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC), which provides services and programs that address the Noongar peoples' needs and aspirations in cooperation with other community and business organisations. With an asset base of $28 million, SAC provides services and programs in areas such as family violence prevention, affordable housing, health promotion, suicide prevention and legal services. Asha has been working in the Community Legal sector for the last 13 years. Asha advocates for Family Violence Prevention Legal services (FVPLS) that have the knowledge, experience and capacity to be the primary group providing family violence policy advice to the sector on family violence and child protection issues affecting Aboriginal families. Asha has an MBA from Kaplan Business School and holds master’s and bachelor's degrees in mathematics and business and professional accounting. She is an associate member of CPA and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is excited to be able to contribute to Community Legal WA in this role. CEO, Southern Aboriginal Corporation
Member Jennie Gray Expand Jennie Gray Jennie Gray is the Chief Executive Officer at Women’s Legal Service WA, an agency that provides gender specific legal advice and support to improve outcomes for women in the justice systems. Previously Jennie was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, at the Western Australian Council of Social Service, overseeing the organisation’s social policy, special projects and business development work. Her professional career in the community sector has spanned practice, management and research roles, in a variety of contexts, including many years based in the Kimberley coordinating services delivered across the North West. Jennie has been steadfast in her commitment to working alongside others to ensure a more just, fair and sustainable society. In addition to a Doctorate of Philosophy, Jennie has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Business. Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Legal Service WA
Member Kathy Johnson Expand Kathy Johnson Kathy joined Peel Community Legal Services as CEO in 2017. Kathy’s experience has extended from large corporate business, not for profit organisations to running a small family business. Her formal qualifications are in Management, HR and IR (JP, MBus (HRM), CAHRI) but the diversity of her roles has allowed her to develop strong general management skills including financial management, operations and project management.Kathy has been involved with NFP organisations as a Board Member and in these positions has gained strong knowledge of governance and strategic requirements. Kathy is a Justice of the Peace and is involved in a voluntary capacity with a number of organisations. Her interest is in social justice and access to services for all. CEO, Peel Community Legal Services
Member Sarah Toovey Expand Sarah Toovey Sarah is currently the General Manager of Ruah Legal Services and has worked in the Community Legal Sector since 2017. Ruah Legal Services launched in November 2019, following a merger between the Mental Health Law Centre (MHLC) and Ruah Community Services. As a result of the merger, Ruah Legal Services has been able to establish integrated services that help people address their psycho-social needs in conjunction with providing end-to-end legal assistance. Sarah has a Master of Human Rights and prior to returning to Australia in 2017 she spent two years in central Africa working in the monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian aid projects. Sarah is passionate about equipping staff with data management systems and processes that enable them to collect quality data without causing undue burden. This background in data management led MHLC to launch ActionStep in 2018, which has been a gamer changer for the practice. General Manager, Ruah Legal Services
Member Gai Walker Expand Gai Walker Gai has been a community advocate for over 30 years working at SCALES for the past 24 years. She is now the Managing Director leading a team of 15 who provide community legal services to vulnerable and disadvantaged people from the Kwinana and Rockingham region. The core work of the centre is working with people who have experienced family and domestic violence, tenants at risk of homelessness and separating families with children. On a personal note, Gai is rumoured to be a fibre artist and quilter but is primarily a curator of a very extensive fabric collection. Managing Director, SCALES Community Legal Centre