Senior leadership

Chief Executive Officer Louise Glanville

Louise commenced as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Victoria Legal Aid in October 2018. She has extensive experience across the justice, social services and government sectors. Prior to her appointment at Victoria Legal Aid, Louise was the CEO of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. Before this, she spent three years as deputy CEO at the National Disability Insurance Agency implementing the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Louise was the inaugural director of Victoria’s Neighbourhood Justice Centre Project which saw the Centre opening in Collingwood in 2007. She has worked for the Victorian Public Advocate, the then Victorian Department of Justice and the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department in senior executive roles, as well as in local government, academia, the private sector, and ministerial offices. Louise holds qualifications in law, social work and social policy, and is keenly interested in the intersections between legal policy and public policy generally.

Chief Operating Officer Cameron Hume

Community Legal Information and Corporate Services

Cameron was appointed Director of Research and Communications in October 2013. In December 2014 he became Victoria Legal Aid's first Director of Corporate Affairs and in October 2021 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer. He has worked at the Victorian Department of Justice in project, policy and operations management roles relating to law reform and administration of the justice system. He also spent several years as a management consultant working across research and evaluation, strategic planning, and organisational and operational reviews. This work spanned a range of social policy and operational portfolios including justice, human services and the community sector. Cameron holds a Masters of Public Policy and Management.

Executive Director Dan Nicholson

Criminal Law

Dan commenced as Executive Director or Criminal Law in January 2018 and was formerly our Executive Director of Civil Justice, Access and Equity. He joined Victoria Legal Aid as the Associate Director of Access and Equity in May 2012. Prior to joining Victoria Legal Aid he managed the Human Rights Unit at the Victorian Department of Justice, was associate to Justice Maxwell, president of the Court of Appeal, and worked at Fitzroy Legal Service. He has also worked on a range of human rights issues in Cambodia and Timor-Leste. He has been a commissioner with the Victorian Law Reform Commission since 2018.

Executive Director Joanna Fletcher

Family, Youth and Children’s Law

Executive Director Peter Noble

Regions and Service Delivery

Executive Director Rowan McRae

Legal Practice, Civil Justice, Access and Equity

Director Ashley Morris

First Nations Services

Ashley is a Gunditjmara man, born in Traralgon. Prior to joining Victoria Legal Aid in October 2023, he was manager of Koori services and programs at the Children’s Court of Victoria, where he led the development and delivery of the court’s self-determination plan and effective delivery and expansion of Koori services and programs. Prior to that, he was Koori services coordinator at the Broadmeadows Children’s Court where he led the development and implementation of the Marram-Ngala Ganbu (Koori Family Hearing Day). Ashley has also held several positions across the Koori justice sector, including in youth justice, corrections, family violence and criminal law.

Director Daniella Calkoen

People and Workplace Services

Daniella joined Victoria Legal Aid as a human resources business partner in 2012 and has since held various roles in our People and Workplace Services team, most recently as Associate Director, Advisory and Operations. She is an experienced business leader and human resources practitioner, having managed human resource, customer service and operational teams in public sector organisations including in the health, financial services and community services industries. Daniella holds a Bachelor degree in sociology and postgraduate qualifications in human resources, industrial relations, sociology and social work.

Director Dianna Gleeson

Legal Practice

Dianna commenced at Victoria Legal Aid in June 2019. Prior to joining, Dianna was a managing principal solicitor of the Constitutional and Advice team at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office (VGSO). Dianna’s experience also includes managing various litigation teams at VGSO and the legal team at the Office of Chief Examiner, working in commercial private practice and at a community legal centre.

Director Eila Pourasgheri

Families

Eila commenced as Director of Families in February 2023. Prior to joining Victoria Legal Aid, Eila was director of Education and Engagement at Women’s Legal Service Victoria and had worked at the Victorian Department of Justice. She has also practised in private practice and worked in Vanuatu and Cambodia in areas of access to justice and human rights. Eila is a recipient of the Law Institute of Victoria Distinguished Service Award and holds a Masters of Law.

Chief Counsel Julia Munster

Chambers

Julia commenced as Chief Counsel in October 2020. Before this, Julia was in our Chambers for 10 years – initially as public defender, then senior public defender, also acting as chief counsel and the associate director in Chambers. She is an experienced trial advocate, an Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law and is co-chair of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Accredited Specialisation Criminal Law Advisory Committee. Prior to joining us, Julia was a solicitor advocate in the Alice Springs office of the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission. Before that, she worked on land and native title rights and heritage protection projects for the Central Land Council. She holds qualifications in law and anthropology, and is currently studying a Master of Laws.

Director Kate Bundrock

Summary Crime and Therapeutic Justice

Kate first commenced at Victoria Legal Aid in 2004 and worked in a range of areas, including our Shepparton and Preston offices, in Legal Practice, and as manager of our Dandenong office. Prior to her current role, she was the Program Manager, Summary Crime and delivered important initiatives, including the establishment of our Help Before Court and Bail and Remand Court services. Kate has also worked at the Victorian Bar, Mallesons and the Supreme Court of Victoria as Associate to Justice Osborn.

Director Lucy Adams

Civil Justice

Chief Information and Digital Officer Martin Edwards

Digital Transformation and Technology

Martin commenced at Victoria Legal Aid as Chief Information Officer in March 2016. Since then, he has overseen different portfolios including information and communication technology (ICT), records management, built environment, business resilience and digital transformation. In December 2023, Martin was appointed as Chief Information and Digital Officer. He previously worked in the Victorian public sector in health and justice in chief information officer and senior ICT related roles. Martin is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds qualifications in Management and ICT.

Chief Financial Officer Matthew Dale

Finance, Planning and Projects

Matthew joined Victoria Legal Aid as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in July 2019. Before joining us, he worked at the Environment Protection Authority as the CFO where he was responsible for the financial, procurement, risk management, compliance and infrastructure operations, including financial reporting and strategic advice to the executive and Board. Matthew has extensive experience in financial management and leadership in a number of previous roles within the government sector at both state and federal level. Matthew has been a Certified Practising Accountant since 2006.

General Counsel Sarah Nieuwenhuysen

Office of the Chief Executive Officer

Sarah commenced at Victoria Legal Aid in 2012 as Executive Manager in the Office of the Chief Executive Officer and became General Counsel in 2016. Prior to this, she worked in legal, governance, administration and policy roles in the Victorian public service, including at the Department of Education and Training, Department of Premier and Cabinet and Department of Justice. Sarah is admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and began her career in private practice.

Director Zione Walker-Nthenda

Client Services and Sector Engagement

Zione commenced as Director, Client Services and Sector Engagement in June 2022. Prior to this, she was the director, Community Engagement with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and had held other senior roles in government including as a principal advisor with the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Manager, Human Rights with Victoria Police. She has also worked in legal education and policy roles with Women’s Legal Service Victoria and at Victoria Legal Aid as a lawyer in 2005. Zione was recently recognised by IPAA Victoria, receiving an award as one of the public sector’s emerging women leaders.