Staff of the College

Sam Burchell and Maciek Krymski receive Justice Awards in 2009 for the Sexual Assault Project

Chris Michell and Matt Weatherson receive Justice Awards in 2008 for online publications

College staff, Lucy Strang and Sally Hyatt, planning new programs

Chief Executive Officer: Lyn Slade BA, LLB, M Bus
Lyn Slade, as the inaugural CEO, established the operations of the College in November 2002. Previously Lyn was the Director of Legal Professional Development at Leo Cussen Institute for seven years, during which she completed her Master of Business in Leadership and Organisation Dynamics.

Before moving into legal education, Lyn worked as a solicitor with the then Australian Securities Commission, primarily on class action litigation, and in private practice at a large city firm. In a previous life, Lyn worked in business both in Australia and the UK.

Director Project Development: Maria Lusby PSM, BA, LLB
Maria Lusby commenced at the College in February 2004 on a 12-month secondment from the Office of Public Prosecutions. In early 2005 Maria transferred permanently to the College and took up the role as Director Project Development. Maria practised at the OPP in the Homicide unit for eight years, eventually managing that unit (and several others). She also took on the role of coordinator of the OPP's internal professional development activities. Maria's role involves providing advice on and implementing skills enhancement projects, including the two-year induction framework and court craft pilot.

Director Research & Publications: Chris Michell BA (Hons), LLB
Chris joined the College from the Office of Public Prosecutions in 2004. He is responsible for overseeing the College’s legal publications. Chris came to the College to lead the work of revising and publishing online the Victorian Sentencing Manual. He retains responsibility for the continuing updating of that publication. In January 2008 Chris took over responsibility for the College’s Victorian Criminal Charge Book project. He manages the work of the Judicial Editorial Committee and contributes to the publication as a researcher.

Director Education: Samantha Burchell BA, LLB
Samantha took up the position of Director Education at the Judicial College of Victoria in November 2007. Samantha has a professional background in legal practice (as a solicitor and member of the Victorian Bar) and policy. Between 1999 and 2004 she was Co-Executive Director of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH). Most recently she was a policy and research officer at the Victorian Law Reform Commission, working on the reviews of the Uniform Evidence Act and the Victorian civil justice system. At the College Samantha had carriage of the Sexual Assault project, a major focus being the development of a Sexual Assault Education Framework.

Manager Projects: Carly Schrever BSc, LLB
Throughout 2007 Carly had carriage of the Human Rights curriculum and currently works closely with Maria Lusby on the development and implementation of skills-based professional development projects, including our suite of Judicial Dispute Resolution Programs. Carly completed her articles of clerkship at Allens Arthur Robinson and was admitted to the legal profession in April 2005. Prior to joining the College, Carly was an associate at the Supreme Court of Victoria.  Carly is currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Psychology. 

Manager Programs: Fiona Brice BA, LLB (Hons)
Prior to commencing with the College in August 2008, Fiona worked as a solicitor in private practice, specialising in common law personal injury, public liability and WorkCover claims. Fiona has also worked as an associate at the Supreme Court of Victoria. Previously, Fiona practised in the area of criminal defence. At the College, Fiona is responsible for coordinating a range of continuing professional development programs.

Manager Programs: Sally Hyatt BA, LLB (Hons)
Sally commenced work at the College in March 2009. She completed her articles at Deacons and was admitted to the legal profession in March 2004. Prior to joining the College, Sally worked as an Associate at the Supreme Court of Victoria. Sally is responsible for coordinating a range of continuing professional development programs.

Senior Researcher Criminal Procedure Project: Matt Weatherson BSc (Hons), LLB (Hons)
Matt joined the College in January 2007 after working as a research associate at the Supreme Court of Victoria, Court of Appeal. He initially provided research support on the Victorian Sentencing Manual and the Victorian Criminal Charge Book. In September 2008 he commenced work on the Victorian Criminal Proceedings Manual. His current research interests include criminal procedure, jury directions, sentencing and confiscation law.

Senior Researcher Criminal Charge Book: Jamie Walvisch BA(Hons), LLB(Hons)
Jamie came to the College to develop and draft the new Victorian Criminal Charge Book in October 2005. He now acts as a researcher and editor for this publication on a part-time basis.  Jamie is also studying as a PhD candidate attached to the Monash University Rethinking Mental Health Laws Project. Prior to joining the College, Jamie worked in legal research roles at the Victorian Law Reform Commission and the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Research Officer: Mereana White BA, LLB (Hons)
Mereana joined the College in June 2010 after working for the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal. Mereana provides research support to a range of College publications and has recently commenced work on the Family Violence Bench Book. Prior to joining the College Mereana worked as a legal officer for the Department of Sustainability and Environment, as a commercial solicitor in New Zealand and as a legal researcher for the Maori Land Court and Waitangi Tribunal in New Zealand. She was admitted into legal practice in April 2004.

Research Officer: Jane Mevel BA, LLB (Hons), Grad Dip Legal Pratice
Prior to commencing at the College in June 2010, Jane worked as a legal policy officer in the Civil and Criminal Law Policy Units of the Department of Justice. In those roles, Jane was involved in various legislative reform programs, including in respect of family violence and civil procedure. Jane completed her articles of clerkship at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and was admitted to practice in October 2005. Jane has also worked as a researcher at the County Court. Jane provides research support to a range of College publications, including the Victorian Sentencing Manual and the Uniform Evidence Manual.

JOIN Coordinator: Damian Siracusa BA, LLB, Grad Dip Leg Practice
Damian commenced at the College in November 2008 and is tasked with coordinating and managing the day-to-day content of JOIN (our judicial intranet) and the JCV website. He was admitted into legal practice in August 2005. Before commencing at the College, Damian was employed as a lawyer at a large city firm.

Project Officer: Sarah Welch BBus, LLB, Grad Dip Leg Practice 
Sarah started as an Intern with the College in June 2010 after completing a combined Business and Law degree at the University of Tasmania then moving to Melbourne for practical legal training. She was admitted to the legal profession in August 2010. Sarah now works as a Project Officer at the College assisting in the provision of continuing professional development programs.

PA to Chief Executive Officer and Program Support: Caroline Neeling and Kylie Pearse
Caroline and Kylie are responsible for providing high-level PA support to the CEO as well as support for the delivery of College programs.

Administrative Assistants: Konstantina Giblett and Rebecca Mond, BTech
Konstantina and Rebecca are tasked with providing administrative support to the College generally.