Legal Services Commission

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:02): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the minister update the council about recent appointments to the Legal Services Commission?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his question and it complements very well the question I had earlier about Mr Greg Mead and his very significant 37-year contribution to this state, and also the retirement of Gabrielle Canny, who for more than a decade was head of the Legal Services Commission and has now left, as I talked about before.

There have been two recent appointments who will very substantially bolster the ranks of the leadership of the commission, indicating just how in demand the commission is as an employer of choice in South Australia's legal profession. As I have mentioned before to this chamber, talking about the Legal Services Commission, they have delivered something like four million legal assistance services to South Australians since they began operations in 1979.

A large proportion of these advice services are provided under the guidance of the manager for legal information and advice, a role to which Tania Sulan has recently been appointed. Ms Sulan joins the commission with extensive legal practice, business transformation expertise and experience, along with a passion for community service and social justice outcomes. She has made an invaluable contribution to South Australia's legal assistance sector as chair of JusticeNet SA.

Ms Sulan spent over 16 years at legal finance and risk management service Omni Bridgeway where she held the roles of managing director, transformation, and chief investment officer, among other roles. Before this, she worked as a solicitor in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

In addition, Mr Jeff Powell joins the commission as chief counsel with extensive legal practice and counsel experience having worked at the independent Bar since 2006. Mr Powell has experience in the conduct of complex criminal trials in the District and Supreme courts of South Australia and has also appeared in the Magistrates Court, Family Court, the South Australian Employment Tribunal and in environmental prosecutions, both at different times of his career for the defence and prosecution.

Mr Powell is very well placed to provide direction to employees in the Legal Services Commission, having been an instructor in the criminal advocacy program of the SA Bar Readers' Course since 2018. Before joining the independent Bar, Mr Powell held positions within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Crown Solicitor's Office. Mr Powell steps into the role of chief counsel following, as I said earlier today, the retirement of Mr Greg Mead after 37 years.

The calibre of these recent appointments to the Legal Services Commission is a clear indication of the high regard in which the commission is held. I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Powell and Ms Sulan and look forward to the contribution they will no doubt make over many years.