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Council

There are currently 12 Council members who represent a range of perspectives and who come from a broad spectrum of professional and community backgrounds. Under the Sentencing Act 1991, Council members must be appointed under six profile areas:

• one senior academic
• two people with broad experience in community issues affecting the courts
• one highly experienced defence lawyer
• one member of a victim of crime support or advocacy group
• people with experience in the operation of the criminal justice system
• one highly experienced prosecution lawyer.

 

	Professor Arie Freiberg (Chairperson) Profile - Senior member of an academic institution Professor Arie Freiberg is the Dean of Law at Monash University and headed a major review of Victorian sentencing laws during 2001-2002. Professor Freiberg is an authority on sentencing issues and the criminal justice system who has undertaken extensive research on sentencing theory, policy and practice.
	Carmel Arthur Profile - Operation of the criminal justice system Carmel Arthur has great personal insight into the operation of the criminal justice system, both from her experience as a victim of crime and through her long association with Victoria Police. She was appointed to the Adult Parole Board in early 2009.
	David Grace QC Profile - Highly experienced defence lawyer David Grace has over 30 years experience as a legal practitioner, having appeared in numerous court jurisdictions in a number of leading sentencing cases. He regularly appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal and was the previous Chair of the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria.
	Andrea Lott Profile - Community issues affecting courts Andrea Lott brings over 20 years' experience in the delivery and management of services, particularly in working with families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and those who have come into contact with the criminal justice system. Andrea is the CEO of the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO) and is also a member of the Victorian Women’s Correctional Services Advisory Committee, the Ministerial Community Advisory Committee and the Corrections Employment Ministerial Advisory Committee.
	Thérèse McCarthy Profile - Community issues affecting courts Thérèse McCarthy has a long history of involvement with community organisations such as Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) House and Court Network. She has also worked with Australian courts to enhance the relationship between the courts and the community. Ms McCarthy brings to the Council a community perspective on a range of criminal justice issues including domestic violence and sexual assault.
	Professor Jenny Morgan Profile - Member of a victim of crime support or advocacy group Professor Jenny Morgan is a member and previous co-chair of the Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service and has extensive experience in victims' issues. She is a former Chair of the Board of Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) House, former member of the board of Court Network, and has written extensively on issues to do with gender and the law.
	Simon Overland APM Profile - Operation of the criminal justice system Simon Overland has extensive experience in law enforcement and administration at senior executive levels with the Australian Federal Police and with Victoria Police as Assistant Commissioner (Crime), Deputy Commissioner and now as Chief Commissioner.
	Barbara Rozenes Profile - Member of a victim of crime support or advocacy group Barbara Rozenes is Vice President of Court Network, a community organisation designed to assist court users. She has had close contact with victims of crime and others in over 16 years service as a weekly volunteer networker in the Supreme and County Courts. In 2006 she was elected to the Committee of the Victorian Association of Restorative Justice and completed a Ratione's Certificate in Mediation to become an Associate Member of the Australian Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators.
	Gavin Silbert SC Profile - Highly experienced prosecution lawyer Gavin Silbert joined the Council in November 2007. He has over 30 years experience as a barrister having appeared in all jurisdictions, including the Court of Appeal and the High Court. He was appointed a Senior Crown Prosecutor in 2007 and was appointed Chief Crown Prosecutor in March 2008.
	Lisa Ward Profile - Operation of the criminal justice system Lisa Ward has extensive experience in a range of human services including Juvenile Justice, Child Protection and Adult Corrections. For the last decade, she has operated a human services consulting business, providing research, program evaluation and policy review services to government and community organisations. Ms Ward is a member of the Adult Parole Board and the Victorian Women's Correctional Services Advisory Committee.
	David Ware Profile - Operation of the criminal justice system David Ware joined the Council in August 2007. A lawyer, Mr Ware has over 20 years’ experience in public administration within Victoria, with a particular focus on strategy, planning, policy and development across a range of social policy areas. Mr Ware is the Director of Wagering Licence Allocation for the Gambling Licences Review.