Chair Chuck Berger Expand Chuck Berger, Chair I am the current Manager of Kimberley Community Legal Services (KCLS), and I am very pleased to have been elected Chair of the Executive Committee. The community legal sector is almost unique in Australia in that it still maintains a strong decentralised, grassroots focus that allows us to be embedded in and responsive to the communities in which we operate. Unlike many other areas of human services, we haven’t consolidated into large national or international enterprises. That’s our strength, but it also means we have to stretch ourselves to work together, learn from each other, and even flex our muscle together from time to time. Remote legal centres like ours in the Kimberley face a unique set of challenges, and I believe that makes it all the more important to cooperate closely with our colleagues in the big cities. Before joining KCLS in late 2016, I worked as CEO of Outdoors Victoria for several years, and before that as a corporate lawyer, and lawyer and strategist for the Australian Conservation Foundation. I’ve dedicated most of my professional life to community organisations, and hope that I can add a new and fresh perspective to our state peak body. Manager, Kimberley Community Legal Services Inc
Deputy Chair Sarah Patterson Expand Sarah Patterson As the newest of the CLC Managers I have been 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 General Manager 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 Executive Committee and work collaboratively for the benefit of the sector as a whole. General Manager, 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.
Member 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
Member Louellyn Gane Expand Louellyn Gane I have worked in the CLC sector for almost 15 years, having been employed by the Aboriginal Family Violence Unit in Geraldton as the principal solicitor, Sussex Street Community Law Service as the principal solicitor and manager, Goldfields Community Legal Centre as the principal solicitor and I have been the principal solicitor at the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre now for a few years. My passion is this sector, our clients and us as employees. The WA community legal centre sector is a strong one, and I am excited about its future and our place in the national landscape. I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute on a deeper level to the sectors future. I believe that my experience across the regional and metropolitan areas of WA give me a good understanding about the issues that impact on services across the state, and hopefully I can impart some of this knowledge while also learning new skills. Principal Solicitor, Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre
Member Corina Martin Expand Corina Martin I am a Mulgyin Jaru/Kitja and Gooniyandi woman born and raised in Broome Western Australia. Having worked in the Community Legal sector for numerous years out in the regions and communities of Western Australia, I am now the CEO of Aboriginal Family Law Services. I have extensive experience in understanding legal issues affecting Aboriginal people from both a personal and working perspective and I am committed to working in this area of law. I believe in collaboration with other legal and community services to ensure the best legal and community education services are on offer to the clients that we service, who have very complex needs, both social and legal. We are all here to provide a service, we should all be supporting each other rather than competing with each other. Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Family Law 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