Our Board and Patrons
The Board is comprised of a highly professional and committed group of 12 members, each of whom volunteer their time to govern Court Network and provide strategic leadership for the organisation.
The primary role of the Board is to also determine, monitor, and strengthen the organisation's impact on the people we aim to serve in courts across Victoria and Queensland.
Board members must also act in accordance with Court Network's Statement of Purposes and Rules, which includes all relevant legal obligations and responsibilities, particularly with respect to offering proper financial oversight.
Our Rules prescribe the participation of Networker members on the Board to ensure that operational and front-line practice wisdom can be represented as part of the Board's strategic work. This also provides an opportunity for Networkers to connect with the governance side of running the organisation; and allows for greater accountability to the wider Networker community to know that Networker members are contributing to decisions that impact on the future of the organisation.
President | The Honourable Kathy Williams
Appointed April 2021
Kathy Williams is a former Judge of the Victorian County Court and the Supreme Court of Victoria. During her time on the Supreme Court, she led the Court’s Common Law Division and also served as President of the Forensic Leave Panel. Kathy was appointed to the bench in April 1999 and retired in February 2015. Prior to that she was a Barrister specialising in commercial law. Kathy currently sits on the Board of Launch Housing, a community organisation committed to ending homelessness. She is also a Director of St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research. Kathy experienced what she regards as the invaluable work of Court Network, both as a barrister and as a Judge.
Vice President | David Bartlett
Member | Appointed AGM 2019
David is a research fellow with the Griffith Criminology Institute and sessional lecturer with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University. Prior to academia David had a 24 year career in the Queensland public sector, working in a range of frontline, research and management roles across justice and health sector agencies. He commenced his career in Queensland's Magistrates Courts Service, where he developed a strong appreciation for the important contribution made by court volunteers. David's last public sector role was Director of Governance of the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service where he supported the board and was also responsible for corporate governance functions. He is an independent member of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association's board complaints committee and member of the Gold Coast Community Policing Board. David holds degrees in psychology, criminology and management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Treasurer | Juan Munoz
Appointed AGM 2019
Juan is passionate about the work of Court Network in supporting people to access the court system. He practices as a lawyer and was a former judge's associate. Juan has extensive experience advising boards and in relation to risk management and governance. Juan wants to serve on the Board because he understands how the courts work and he knows the vital role that the Court Network plays in assisting people during the court process. He is passionate about volunteering and wants to assist the Board in ensuring that Court Network supports its diverse users with its services. On a personal level, he is a first-generation migrant to Australia and this has given him an appreciation for the lived experiences of a broad range of people in the community. He enjoys spending time with his partner, family, friends and two dogs.
Secretary | Shirley Fraser
Networker & Member | Appointed AGM 2021
Shirley became a volunteer Networker at the Ballarat courts in 2018. She has been an active participant in new key developments at Court Network - the Telephone Service and the Online Hearing Support. Shirley has held a number of different roles within the Federation University of Australia - Executive Director of Federation College, Associate Professor with Federation University and the Head of Western Campuses. Her qualifications include Master in Business Administration (MBA) and Graduate Diploma in Business with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Shirley has held numerous positions on different non-for-profit boards.
Brigita Cunnington
Member | Appointed AGM 2017, re-elected 2020
Brigita is currently the Acting Executive Director of the Magistrates Courts Service in Queensland. She has extensive experience in the justice portfolio working in various legal, policy and management roles. She was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2000 and practiced in native title law including at Crown Law. She has been employed in various roles in Queensland Courts since 2006 including as Director of the Office of the State Coroner and Director of Courts Innovation Program.
Catherine Hopper
Member | Appointed AGM 2019
Catherine Hopper is a finance professional with over ten years of experience in corporate finance within investment banking, funds management and Australian corporates. She brings a range of skills to the board, particularly strategic and financial expertise focused on strategic planning and financial governance. Catherine holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) / Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University. She is also a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) with a strong understanding of financial and tax matters for not for profit entities.
Karen Gelb
Member | Appointed AGM 2019
Dr Karen Gelb is an experienced criminologist, social scientist and researcher. She is passionate about the need for informed, data-led and evidence-based policy to underpin practice in the justice arena. Karen has spent 15 years researching courts, including more than eight years with the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council and more than six years as a private consultant. Her key areas of expertise are courts, family violence, sentencing, public opinion, sex offenders, youth justice, female offenders and remand. She has extensive experience in critically analysing research material, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, undertaking stakeholder consultations and writing accessible reports. Karen is currently a Consultant Criminologist, a Lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Criminology and a Senior Research and Policy Officer at Penington Institute. As someone who has had her own personal experience with the Victorian courts – and the support offered by a Court Networker – Karen hopes to be able to contribute in some small way as a Board member for this valuable organisation.
Susan Wakeling
Member | Appointed AGM 2019
Susan Wakeling is a Victorian Magistrate of almost 20 years experience and currently holds the position of Regional Coordinating Magistrate of the court at Melbourne. In this role Susan is responsible to promote the fair and efficient operation of this busy Court, and to build relationships with community and court user groups. Prior to undertaking this role, Susan held the position of Regional Coordinating Magistrate at Heidelberg Magistrates Court for 7 years, and the Supervising Magistrate (joint) of the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal for 5 years. Susan is a member of the Court’s Family Law and Family Violence Portfolio Committee and the Sexual Offences Committee. Susan’s particular interest is in the challenge of facilitating a court experience which is safe and meaningful for each participant. Prior to her appointment as a Magistrate, Susan worked as a solicitor advocate in criminal, family law and family violence. Susan enjoys travelling, hiking, reading and time with family.
Martin Mowlam
Networker & Member | Appointed AGM 2020
Martin is retired and has been a Networker at the Supreme Court since 2012 and a member of the Education Team at the court. Martin has also been a volunteer Independent Third Person with the Office of Public Advocate attending police interviews of people with acquired brain injuries, mental health issues and drug dependence. Martin is tertiary educated and his working background has been in the sports, exhibitions and entertainment industries as a manager, director and producer, both in Australia and the US. Immediately prior to retirement he was a postman in the city sorting and delivering mail. Martin brings an empathy and understanding to his role as a Court Networker. His life and professional experience and knowledge and his diverse background bring value to the Court Network board.
Samantha Willetts
Networker & Member | Appointed AGM 2020
Samantha is an experienced Queensland Victim Support Unit volunteer. She is also an experienced nurse, with a degree from Queensland University of Technology, with expertise in mental health, theatre and post-operative nursing with adults and children. Samantha is also currently undertaking her second Degree in Psychology (honours) at the University of Queensland. Samantha has always been passionate about helping others. She has a thorough understanding of the needs of others and the importance of advocacy for those who feel disempowered. As a Court Network volunteer, Samantha is very much aware of the importance of what Court Network volunteers do and how they make a difference. The skills that Samantha brings to the board include her people skills, problem solving, diplomacy, advocacy, teamwork, crisis management and decision making in complex situations.
Wendy Bradly
Networker & Member | Appointed AGM 2022
Wendy began networking at Ringwood Law Courts in 2018. In 2020 she joined Court Network’s Telephone Service and continues to actively participate in this program. Wendy is also actively involved with Court Network’s new online service model established in early 2021, enabling court users to access support remotely. In her professional life Wendy has had a number of roles in the education sector including Group Manager, Communications and Research with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, Research Officer in the Department of Education and Training, Campus Coordinator of the VCE campus of a large government secondary school and VCE teacher. She holds a Master’s degree and post graduate Diploma in Education and a Bachelor of Arts. Wendy has served on primary and secondary school councils both as a parent and teacher as well as on the board of management of a community neighbourhood centre. Prior to joining Court Network, for three years Wendy was a volunteer tutor at Swinburne University supporting the Migrant English Program.
Amanda Shipway
Member | Appointed AGM 2022
Amanda Shipway has worked for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General since 2009, her first role with the DJAG was at Victim Assist Queensland where she worked for five years as the Victim Services Coordinator, before moving to her current role as Director, Integrated Service Response, Office for Women and Violence Prevention, within the Deputy Director-Generals office. She is responsible for the contracts for the domestic and family violence, sexual assault and wellbeing services in Queensland, valued at over $100 million and has oversight of Queensland’s eight High Risk Teams and 24 staff members located across the State.
Amanda has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and management, including working with other employees of the Queensland Public Service, in particular QPS, Queensland Corrective Services, and DPP. She is currently Chair of the Integrated Service System Oversight Committee, which has representation from all Queensland Government agencies and the domestic and family violence sector peak the committee is tasked with overseeing four recommendations from the Women’s Justice and Safety Taskforce.
Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AM
Governor of Victoria
On 1 July 2015, the Honourable Linda Dessau AM was sworn in as Victoria's 29th Governor, the first female in that role. In June 1995, the Governor was appointed a Judge of the Family Court of Australia, where she served for 18 years until July 2013. In 2010 the Governor was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to family law and the community.
The Honourable Anne Ferguson
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Justice Ferguson was appointed as a Supreme Court judge in 2010, predominantly dealing with corporations cases. Justice Ferguson was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2014 and heard appeals in a wide range of criminal and civil matters. In October 2017, Justice Ferguson was appointed Chief Justice of Victoria.