KNOWMORE LEGAL SERVICE LIMITED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Director, Client Services
Amanda joined knowmore in 2015 and was appointed as the Director, Client Services in 2018. A social worker by qualification and with more than 20 years' experience working with vulnerable communities impacted by trauma in both Western Australia and Queensland, Amanda is co-leader of knowmore's national service delivery. A key function of Amanda's role is to work with all managers to ensure knowmore delivers a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed, culturally safe legal service to our clients, and to lead knowmore's wellbeing and resilience strategies for staff.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Director, First Nations Engagement
Gary joined the team as knowmore's first Director of First National Engagement in March 2023. Gary is a Kuku Yalanji man from Far North Queensland. He has over thirty years' experience in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including in previous leadership roles and in the delivery of legal assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This experience includes roles as the CEO of The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples from 2017-2019; CEO of the Aboriginal Legal Service of NSW/ACT from 2015 to 2017 (Gary was also a previous Chairperson and Board member of the ALS); and as a Board member of Save the Children Australia for a period of over 9 years.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Executive Team
Jackie Mead has broad experience in leadership and management roles across the community sector. She has extensive formal education and commenced her career in human resources and people and culture roles, across major non-government organisations.
Jackie was CEO of SANDS, a national community organisation supporting bereaved families and then led its successful merger with Red Nose Australia. More recently she has served in a leadership role with SANE. She has also worked closely with First Nations teams and services. Jackie also has a number of voluntary and advisory roles, including as a Board member and Chairperson of relevant services.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- CEO of Eastern Community Legal Centre
Michael Smith is the CEO of Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) in Melbourne.
Michael was National Chair (and spokesperson) for the National Association of Community Legal Centres (now CLCs Australia) from 2010-2015, the peak body for community legal centres. In this role he was active in knowmore's establishment by NACLC. Michael has continued as Chairperson for knowmore as it developed and became a separate CLC.
Michael is passionate about developing innovative partnerships and multidisciplinary approaches to client and community needs. Originally a youth worker (BA), Michael has postgraduate qualifications (Master of Social Work) and is a Graduate Member of the AICD.
Mitzi Gilligan GAICD is a director, business owner and investor who has been practising as a lawyer since 1991. Currently she is a Principal and Founder at Hive Legal specialising in energy and climate change law, prior to which she was a partner at Minter Ellison. She was a board member at Justice Connect for 11 years, including 6 years as chair and also a longstanding volunteer at the Justice Connect Homeless law service. She is a director of energy company Ratch Australia and legal tech company Xakia Technologies, as well as chair of the External Law Advisory Committee for Swinburne University. Previously Mitzi was a director of Minemet Group Limited, a Management Committee Member of Seniors Rights Victoria, including a year as chair, and a Melbourne High School council member.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Executive Team
Nick joined knowmore in May 2019 in the role of Director, Strategic Engagement. Nick has over twenty years' management experience, prior to joining knowmore he was the Executive Officer of the Barwon Community Legal Service in Geelong for ten years and has held senior leadership roles in financial services and recruitment. He has also been involved in state and national community legal centre (CLC) peak bodies having been Chair of the Federation of Community Legal Services (Victoria) and a Director of the National Association of Community Legal Centres.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Acting Principal Lawyer
Rachel Neil is the Acting Principal Lawyer of knowmore legal service, based in the Brisbane office. Rachel has worked at knowmore since November 2019. Rachel has worked in the community legal sector for many years in various roles, including Principal Solicitor at Women's Legal Service Qld. She has spent her legal career committed to helping vulnerable people to access their rights within a strong framework of trauma informed practice.
Job Titles:
- CEO of Circle Green Community Legal
Sara Kane is the CEO of Circle Green Community Legal. Sara has a BSocSc and has over 20 years' experience in community sector management, service development, delivery, and strategic planning. She has worked at a local, state, national and international level in not-for-profit organisations, local government, and the private sector. Sara has been a Director and Chairperson of the Community Legal Centres Australia Board of Directors and has previously been Deputy Chairperson of the Community Legal Centres Association of WA and Convenor of the WA CLC Managers Network.