our board
Kathy Blitz-Cokis Chief Executive Officer
Over the last 27 years, Kathy has worked in various health and human service state government departments, as well as in the non-government community sector. With a background in social work and a degree in law, her experience has been broad ranging from senior social worker, public sector commission consultant, policy and project work in child protection and family and domestic violence. Most recently, Kathy was the Manager of a women’s health program within the North Metropolitan Health Service. She has worked on Aboriginal health programs, education and strategic planning for family and domestic violence within the Department of Health, as well as family support social work in the community. She believes her current role as the CEO of the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre provides a strong foundation to offer her breadth of professional experience and knowledge, and build on the wonderful work of such an iconic organisation.
Jennifer Hannan AM Chairperson
Jennifer Hannan AM is the State Director in WA for MacKillop Family Services. She has worked as a Therapist (child, couple and family) and then as a Manager and Executive Director for a number of not for profit organisations including Relationships Australia, Centacare and Anglicare and now MacKillop Family Services over her 30+ year career. In Jennifer’s current position at MacKillop, she is responsible for all WA Services including their foster care programmes which include innovative collaborations with Aboriginal organisations to provide Aboriginal carers for Aboriginal kids on country. Jennifer was past chair and board member of FRSA and Families Australia, served for 5 years on the Family Law Council of Australia as the community sector appointee and has current positions on the Department for Child Protection, Department (WA) Case Review Board and the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre Board.
Diana MacTiernan Deputy Chairperson
Diana MacTiernan has been on the NSCLC since 2012. Diana is a manager in the Equal Opportunity Commission WA and is part of the Corporate Executive. Diana has also held other voluntary administrative committee positions on not for profit organisations for over thirty years. Diana holds qualifications in urban social and industrial relations and has worked as an advocate for both unions and public sector agencies.
Toby Nisbet Secretary
Allison Leonard Treasurer
Michael Klimek Member
Michael Klimek is the principal lawyer of Klimek Family Law, which practices exclusively in the area of family law and restraining orders. Michael has been working in family law since 2006 and has served as a Board Member of the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre since October 2016. Michael is available at short notice to the solicitors of the Northern Suburbs CLC to give guidance about complex legal and procedural issues involving family law. Klimek Family Law in Subiaco helps to facilitate access to justice for the forgotten middle by offering affordable fees, upfront agreed fixed pricing, deferred legal fees, unbundled legal services, legal coaching, and pro bono assistance from time to time through the Law Society of WA's LawAccess program.
Rupert Johnson Member
Rupert Johnson graduated with a bachelor of arts (history) and a bachelor of laws from Murdoch University in 1995. A graduate of The University of Western Australia, Rupert’s doctoral thesis Private Property Rights and the State. A Study of Regard and Increasing Disregard in Western Australia: 1829-2016 was successfully examined in 2017 as part of his doctor of juridical science (SJD) candidature. Rupert is admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia, and has enjoyed a long association with the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre (Inc) as a board member. Rupert’s writing has included contributions to The Laws of Australia, and the Australian Law Dictionary (Oxford University Press). He is presently contributing to a text on property law in Western Australia.
Tracey Negus Member
Tracey Negus is a Social Work Manager with experience in leading large teams of professionals and providing guidance to staff on complex ethical issues. Since commencing at Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) in 2002 Tracey has been responsible for establishing the following programs, Older Patient Initiative Care Coordination Team Interim Hospital Packages ; Better Discharge Planning Program and Veterans’ Liaison Officer role; Health Justice Partnership and Aboriginal Liaison Officers. Tracey currently chairs the Aboriginal Health Committee and Diversity Access and Inclusion Committee at JHC as well representing the hospital on the Health Justice Oversight Committee. She also co-manages the social work teams at Joondalup Health Campus, Joondalup Private Hospital and Glengarry Private Hospital as well as coordinating the Aboriginal Liaison Officers at JHC. Tracey has a Postgraduate Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Arts, double major in psychology from the University of Queensland.
Gaelle Gouillou Member
Currently the CEO for The Spiers Centre, Gaelle is highly experienced in establishing strategic and operational optimisation across diverse service areas in the not-for-profit and community sector. She has extensive governance and executive leadership experience, holds postgraduate tertiary qualifications across multidisciplinary areas and serves on several not-for-profit management boards.
