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Our organisation

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) has a board of directors, a managing director and six program areas including our civil, criminal and family law practices.

The board

The board of directors is responsible for ensuring VLA meets its statutory objectives. The board's five directors are nominated by the Victorian Attorney-General and appointed by the Governor-in-Council. At least one board member must have experience in financial management and one must have experience in either business or government operation. One of the directors is the managing director of VLA.

The board members are:

  • Andrew Guy, Chairperson (from 1 October 2011)
  • Bevan Warner, Managing Director
  • Mary Anne Noone 
  • Jennifer Shaw
  • Catherine McGovern.

Managing director

Bevan Warner is the managing director of VLA. He manages the day-to-day affairs of VLA according to the policies, priorities, strategies and directions determined by the VLA board. He is also a National Legal Aid representative and the current chair of the Australian Legal Assistance Forum.

Program directors

The directors of VLA's programs are:

  • Kristen Hilton – Civil Justice, Access and Equity
  • Saul Holt – Criminal Law Services
  • Judy Small – Family, Youth and Children's Law Services.

The director of Legal Practice is Meagan Keogh.

The corporate service directors are: 

  • Tony Matthews – Finance, Assignments & Business 
  • Nicole Rich – Research and Communications. 

More information

For more information, see:

  • Our programs for program objectives and areas of activity that fall under these programs
  • Our research for the research that supports VLA's planning and objectives.