The current members of the Commission are:
KAREN FRYAR
Karen Fryar was appointed as President of the Commission on 28 January 2020. From 1989 to 1993 Ms Fryar was the Assistant Executive Officer of the Legal Aid Commission (ACT). In 1993 Ms Fryar became the first woman appointed as a magistrate of the ACT Magistrates Court. Between 2000 and 2010, Ms Fryar presided over the dedicated Family Violence list and also supervised the ACT’s Family Violence Intervention Programme. On 1 March 2010, Ms Fryar became the ACT Children’s Court Magistrate, where she pursued a variety of initiatives such as the Youth Drug and Alcohol Court to assist young offenders experiencing substance abuse problems. During this period Ms Fryar was a member of the South Pacific Council of Youth and Children’s Courts. She received the Order of Australia in 2010 for her service to the community as a magistrate and for contributing to the prevention of family violence.
GAIL KINSELLA
Gail Kinsella was appointed as the Commissioner for financial management on 10 May 2010. Ms. Kinsella is a Chartered Accountant, and a director of Kinsella Chartered Accountants. She has served as a board member and treasurer of Communities@Work, as well as on several professional advisory boards and committees at the local and national level.
RICHARD GLENN
Richard Glenn was appointed as Commissioner on 19 July 2017. Mr. Glenn is the Deputy Director-General of the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate. He has previously served as Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman and as Assistant-Secretary of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. He has worked in national security law, business and information law, securities reform, copyright, and native title. He holds a BA, LLB and LLM from The Australian National University, and is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the ACT.
KYM DUGGAN
Kym Duggan was appointed as the Commissioner with special expertise on 20 May 2016. Mr. Duggan currently works as a justice sector consultant to Commonwealth and State Governments. He has previously served as the First Assistant Secretary at the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He has worked in national security law, social security law, indigenous justice, and native title. He holds an LLB from The University of Adelaide and has been admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor since 1978.
MARCUS HASSALL
Marcus Hassall was appointed as Commissioner on 23 January 2017. Mr. Hassall is a Barrister at the Blackburn Chambers. He has a diverse practice, including in bankruptcy law, commercial law, administrative law, family law, criminal law, workers compensation, and others. He has previously served as a prosecutor with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and as a solicitor with the Australian Government Solicitor. He has served on the ACT Bar Association’s sub-committees on Criminal Law and Continuing Professional Development. He is also a practice mentor in Commercial Law with the ANU Legal Workshop Program. He holds an LLB from The Australian National University.
CATHI MOORE
Ms Cathi Moore was appointed to the Legal Aid Commission Board on 19 August 2020. Ms Moore has contributed to leadership positons in key community service organisations and government boards for over 30 years. Ms Moore began her career at the ACT Council of Social Service and the Young Women’s Christian Association, later going on to become president of the YWCA ACT division. She has also served as a Board Member and Treasurer of YWCA Australia, where she successfully campaigned for the introduction of the 30% quota for young women under 30 in governance positions in the YWCA both nationally and locally. She has also worked with Marymead, ACT Council of Social Service, Community Housing Canberra, Parentline ACT, and is a founding member of My Coaching My Future, which provides free coaching for women who have moved on from violent relationships.
LISA GOONERATNE
Lisa Gooneratne was appointed as a Commissioner on 21 March 2019. Ms Gooneratne is a Special Counsel at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, where she specialises in the law of public liability, workers compensation, motor vehicle accidents, medical negligence, and coronial inquests. She has previously worked as a lawyer at Sparke Helmore.
JOHN BOERSIG
John Boersig was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Commission on 1 December 2013 and holds a position on the Board in that capacity. Dr. Boersig commenced as CEO at that time. He brings to the Commission extensive experience in legal aid, legal education and public administration. He commenced in legal aid practice from 1983, initially with the Aboriginal Legal Service and later as a senior lecturer and director of the Newcastle Legal Centre where he ran the clinical and professional program at the University of Newcastle’s Faculty of Law. He was a presiding member of the Guardianship Tribunal for many years. In 2004 Dr Boersig joined the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department as Assistant Secretary of the Indigenous Law & Justice Branch and later as Assistant Secretary of the Human Rights Branch. He moved to the Ministerial & Cabinet Unit and then the Security Coordination Branch immediately prior to joining the Commission. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney.