Our People

Mel has dedicated her 25-year legal career to advancing access to justice and is passionate about creating positive and inclusive workplaces where people thrive. Mel has been the CEO of Southside Justice since 2020 and is an MBA candidate with UNSW, majoring in Social Impact Leadership.

Jess is a lawyer who has worked in the community and legal assistance sector in practice, policy and research roles for 15 years. Jess has dedicated her career to promoting access to justice for criminalised people, and for people who encounter multiple intersecting barriers to fair treatment and legal equality. Jess has a Masters in Public International Law and has worked for Southside Justice since 2019 as a community lawyer and on establishing the Sex Worker Legal Program.

Bree has spent her career working in for-purpose, community-based organisations, most recently helping drive systemic reform in Victoria’s mental health system. A Communications professional and a non-legal member of the leadership team, Bree's approach is underpinned by a deep commitment to social justice. Bree is currently completing graduate studies in Social Impact with UNSW and joined Southside Justice in 2024.

Denis is a lawyer with significant experience as a CEO & Chair in CLC sector, including at WEstjustice, Anika Legal and Southside Justice. He has previous Board experience with the Insurance Ombudsman Ltd, the Financial Services Ombudsman Ltd and the Energy & Water Ombudsman Victoria. He has worked in community legal centres for 40 years. Denis has been a member of the Southside Justice board and Chair since 2020.

Amanda is a Barrister at the Victorian Bar. Amanda was shortlisted for Barrister of the Year in the 2022 Women in Law Awards. Prior to joining the Bar, Amanda practiced as a solicitor for 13 years and held the position of the Director of Legal Practice for the Consumer Action Law Centre from 2016 to 2021. While at the Consumer Action Law Centre, Amanda was a co-covenor of the Professional Standards and Support Committee as part of the Federation of Community Legal Centres. Amanda is familiar with the governance required under the Risk Management Guide for community legal centres and data reporting mandates. In 2012, Amanda was the President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Law Institute of Victoria. Amanda volunteered with the St Kilda Legal Service in 2010. Amanda has been a member of the Southside Justice board since 2021.

Elliot brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to Southside Justice covering banking and finance, risk, governance, impact measurement and corporate-community-government partnerships. Elliot worked for National Australia Bank for 14 years delivering a portfolio of initiatives focusing on financial inclusion, Indigenous affairs and vulnerability. He has also spent time in the Pacific supporting access to financial services through the United Nations and is currently at the City of Melbourne where he led the Community Development Branch and is now providing executive strategy and advice to the CEO. Elliot is passionate about social justice and supporting access and opportunities to all people no matter who they are or the circumstances they find themselves in. Elliot has been a member of the Southside Justice board and Treasurer since 2018.

Brendan has extensive experience in the community legal sector and governance of both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations. He is the Social Impact Initiatives Lead at ANZ and an independent consultant providing advice to not-for-profits on service design and technology. Brendan has previously held the roles of Head of Community Programs and Head of Pro Bono Partnerships at Justice Connect, Principal of the Moonee Valley Legal Service and was the 2020 Vice President of the Law Institute of Victoria and Chair of the LIV Finance and Investments Committee. Brendan has championed the adoption of human centred design in the development of legal services. Brendan has been a member of the Southside Justice board since 2018 Board Secretary since 2021.

Hayley is Director of the McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer, a joint initiative of Cancer Council Victoria, the Union for International Cancer Control and Cancer Council Australia. Hayley is Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Law and Noncommunicable Disease, hosted by the McCabe Centre. Dual-qualified as a lawyer in Australia and England, Hayley’s background includes legal initiatives supporting access to justice, health and education for children, migrants and people living in poverty, focused on ensuring no one is left behind. Hayley previously worked as part of the pro bono team at Allen & Overy in the UK and Clayton Utz in Australia, and returned to live in the City of Port Phillip 7 years ago. Hayley has been a member of the Southside Justice board since 2023.

Peter is an experienced Finance Executive with a strong track record of financial management in information technology, properties and management of procurement processes within the telecommunication and banking industries. Peter is currently working within the Victorian Government in the Department of Health as the Shared Service Manager for Financial Operations. In addition to Southside Justice, Peter volunteers as a Council Member on the Victorian Regional Council with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and recently was a member of the Accounting Advisory Committee at LaTrobe University Business School. Peter enjoys volunteering and giving back to the profession by being a mentor to up-and-coming accountants and a facilitator for the Chartered Accountants Program. Peter has been a member of the Southside Justice board since 2021.

Sonia has extensive experience in strategic communications, corporate strategy development, and change. Currently the Founder and Principal at Clever Manka, a boutique agency, she advises both corporate and government organisations across a broad range of industries. Prior to this, Sonia headed up PwC's national Creative Comms business and sat on the leadership team of The Difference, its unique and industry-leading facilitation and collaboration design capability. She has also spent more than a decade in PR, where she held senior agency leadership roles and directed multiple award-winning campaigns which spanned consumer brand building to corporate reputation management. Sonia has been a member of the Southside Justice board since 2020 and also chairs the Judging Board for the Pause Awards, which champions Australia's innovation ecosystem. Sonia has been a member of the Southside Justice board since 2020.