Our Board & Patrons

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.

Acting President | The Honourable David Harper AM

Appointed AGM 2015, re-elected AGM 2018

David was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria from 1992 - 2013, becoming a member of the Appeal Division of that Court in 2009. He was President of the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO) between 1995 and 2012, and is now its patron. He became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2008 for service to law reform, the judiciary, international humanitarian law and the community. In 2015 David chaired a panel which advised the Victorian Government on the management of serious offenders. A result of the panel's report was the establishment of the Post Sentence Authority, to which David was appointed inaugural deputy chair for six months ending in October 2018.

Treasurer | Catherine Hopper

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.

Nicky Bromberg

Networker & Member | Appointed AGM 2016, re-elected 2019

Nicky is a current Court Networker, working in the Sunshine Magistrate’s Court and the Family Court. Nicky is a trained Social Worker with a degree in Social Work and Criminology and has volunteered as a telephone counsellor at the Post Natal and Ante Natal Depression Association (PANDA) for a period of 18 months. Prior to social work, Nicky had a 25-year career in the publishing and communications industry, including working for ten years at Text Media as Publishing Director and Hardie Grant Magazines as Director of the business as well as serving on the Board. Nicky has extensive experience in the areas of staff and stakeholder management and in all facets of the publishing of printed and online content.

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.

Neil Michael

Networker & Member | Appointed AGM 2017, re-elected 2020

Neil is a current Court Network volunteer at the Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court where he has been providing services to court users for the past seven years. Neil spent his working life in the service industry in Melbourne. Since retirement he has volunteered as a Community Visitor and a Panel Secretary for the Office of the Public Advocate (Disability Stream), a position he has held for nine years. He has also been the Coordinator of his local Neighbourhood Watch for seven years. Neil’s aim is to represent Metropolitan and Regional Networkers, in Victoria and Queensland, as he was born in Queensland, and give them a voice on the Court Network Board and achieve the best possible outcomes for everyone. Since retirement, Neil has devoted his spare time to volunteering and to giving back to the community by assisting vulnerable people who find themselves in difficult circumstances.

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.

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.

Juan Munoz

Member | 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 my two dogs.

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.

OUR PATRONS

We enjoy the support of the judiciary, court administrators and community agencies, and have the patronage of the Governor of Victoria Her Excellency, the Honourable Linda Dessau AM, the Chief Justice of the of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

CURRENT PATRONS