Meet our leadership
CEO
Chris Povey
He/him
Meet Chris
Chris has worked for over 20 years with and for communities facing significant human rights issues including people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and mental health issues. During his time as CEO, Justice Connect launched its 2024 strategy to better equip the organisation to tackle compounding challenges and crises. This strategy reinforces Justice Connect’s responsive approach to legal need, and commitment to innovate and use digital strategies in order to help more people and not-for-profit organisations.
He has worked in casework, policy, and leadership roles with Tenants Victoria, Victoria Legal Aid, Consumer Action Law Centre, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and Justice Connect.
Through his various roles Chris has seen first-hand the impact of innovative and data-driven legal help, tools, and services to connect people and community groups with the help they need and make systemic changes that progress social justice.
Chris currently serves as on the boards of the Australian Pro Bono Centre and the Human Rights Law Centre, and is Chair of the New South Wales Legal Assistance Forum. He previously served on the board of the Federation of Community Legal Centres and Council to Homeless Persons. In 2010, Chris travelled to England, Scotland, the US, and Canada as a Churchill Fellow to investigate programs to help high risk tenants keep their homes, and stop homelessness before it starts.
COO
Sophie Gordon-Clark
She/her
Meet Sophie
Sophie Gordon-Clark has held senior leadership positions in the access to justice and not-for-profit sector throughout her career. Prior to Justice Connect, she worked with the Melbourne Symphony, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Youth Support + Advocacy Service.
Sophie brings a deep understanding of organisational risk, compliance, financial controls, cyber security, governance, and people and culture. She has developed and delivered innovative solutions to achieving organisational sustainability across systems, ways of working and revenue generation. She has a Bachelor of Economics, a Graduate Diploma in Arts and Entertainment Management and is a Certified Practising Accountant. Sophie serves on the board of Court Network.
Head of Not-for-profit Law
Geraldine Menere
She/her
Meet Geraldine
Geraldine has extensive experience advising both vulnerable individuals and the community organisations that assist them across a range of areas of law. She’s led the work of Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law program since 2021 and played a pivotal role in establishing the organisation’s Local Aboriginal Land Council Service, providing legal support and training to Local Aboriginal Land Councils across New South Wales. Geraldine also worked with asylum seekers, refugees and new migrants to resolve their civil law issues through Justice Connect’s former MOSAIC service.
She is currently a member of the Australian Tax Office’s Not-for-profit Stewardship Group and has been an active volunteer in the community sector, including as a director on the board of a charity in the disability media space.
Before joining the legal profession, Geraldine worked in the banking and finance sector as an asset finance specialist.
Head of Innovation & Connections
Tom O’Doherty
He/him
Meet Tom
Tom O’Doherty is Head of Innovation & Connections at Justice Connect, where he leads work that brings together technology, law, and service design to improve access to justice at scale. He is responsible for shaping and delivering initiatives that help people facing legal problems find the right support at the right time. and ensuring technology enables high quality, reliable services. With over 15 years’ experience across legal services and technology, Tom brings strong capability in technology strategy, product leadership, digital transformation, and ethical, human centred design.
Tom leads interdisciplinary teams spanning product, design, engineering, data, and legal service delivery. His work focuses on designing and governing technology and information systems that are reliable, secure, and grounded in real user needs. He has experience setting digital direction, managing risk, and aligning technology decisions with organisational goals, regulatory requirements, and long-term sustainability.
He has a strong interest in the responsible use of AI and data, and in building systems that are transparent, inclusive, and trustworthy. Tom is motivated by using technology and information as strategic capabilities that strengthen services, support staff, and deliver meaningful outcomes for the community.
Head of Engagement
Emily Malone
She/they
Meet Emily
Emily Malone has over a decade of experience in the not-for-profit sector, with a background in digital strategy, data-driven communications, and human-centred storytelling.
As the Head of Engagement at Justice Connect, Emily now leads a dynamic and multidisciplinary team across communications, marketing, media, fundraising, evaluation, and project delivery.
Emily is deeply committed to increasing access to justice for people facing legal challenges, and is passionate about using technology to make legal help more accessible and inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Driven by curiosity, Emily’s work is grounded in a strengths-based approach, with a focus on helping organisations build the strategies and capabilities needed to expand their reach and serve more communities.
Head of Community Programs
Paula Hughes
She/her
Meet Paula
Paula Hughes is the Head of Community Programs, bringing deep expertise and a strong values‑driven approach to strengthening access to justice for communities experiencing disadvantage.
An experienced advocate and leader across both Victoria and Queensland, Paula has spent more than a decade collaborating with the pro bono sector to design and deliver legal services that respond to the needs of people facing systemic barriers.
Paula’s career spans leadership roles in both the community legal and government sectors, where she has led multidisciplinary teams, championed innovative approaches to legal service design, and contributed to meaningful systems change.
Paula holds a Bachelor of Laws/Arts from the University of Queensland and a Master of Laws with High Distinction from the Queensland University of Technology.
Meet the rest of our team
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