Stephanie joins Consumer Action bringing significant experience across community legal centres and justice advocacy, working across community law, financial counselling and community services. Most recently Stephanie led the development of Mortgage Stress Victoria at Westjustice to become a state-wide service.
Stephanie Tonkin
Chief Executive Officer
Param joined Consumer Action in 2017 and for almost a decade prior Param was assisting large and small non-profit organisations across Australia with grant applications and work for the dole programs. More recently he was managing the ICT & Security needs of Consumer Action and has been instrumental to significant infrastructure improvements. The Operations team delivers practical solutions to complex problems all whilst helping to create an inclusive, diverse and collaborative workplace culture and Param couldn’t be prouder in leading them.
Param Dhillon
Director Operations
BBus (Banking and Finance) David is the former General Manager, Broker Operations at NAB, and has extensive experience in the areas of credit and debt. He is currently CEO of Way Forward Debt Solutions Ltd, a not for profit established by the four major banks, ABA and Financial Counselling Australia with a focus on assisting people in hardship with debts across multiple organisations.
David Berry
Chair
Katia joined Consumer Action as a Litigation Solicitor in 2011. For three years, she worked in the role of Manager Legal Advice Services and worked a further three years in the role of Manager Impact Monitoring & Evaluation, conducting major service evaluations, supporting impact-led service design and delivery, and helping engender a culture of honest inquiry and learning. Trained as a lawyer and social worker, Katia has a passion for advancing fairness and inclusion and is honoured to lead our Financial Counselling Practice.
Katia Sanderson
Director Financial Counselling
Katie Fraser leads the Engagement and Learning team, which coordinates Consumer Action’s professional development for financial counsellors, lawyers and workers; leads partnerships; leads outreach to Aboriginal community; and does evaluation and monitoring to capture the Centre’s impact.
She is passionate about providing access to justice for people who are experiencing disadvantage and using client stories to change unfair systems.
Katie joined Consumer Action in 2019 after working in CLCs for more than a decade. She has an LLB (Hons) and BA (Hons) from ANU, and started her legal career as an Associate at the Federal Court in 2001 (moonlighting as a volunteer at Redfern Legal Centre).
Katie Fraser
Director Engagement and Learning
Tania joined Consumer Action in 2022 after decades of experience advocating and driving social change and an extensive track record in delivering impact relating to industrial relations and employment law, human rights and discrimination law, family law and family violence legal and justice systems. Tania’s background is in legal, advocacy and dispute resolution. She has worked in a diverse range of organisations including NGOs, federal and state governments, trade unions and universities throughout Australia and the UK. Tania is a sensitive listener to her team and those around her. She has a strong history of using ‘positive disruption’ to successfully resolve complex, politically sensitive disputes and problems that exhibit volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
Tania Clarke
Director Policy Campaigns
Nila Martin joined Consumer Action Law Centre in April 2011 as Finance Manager and looks after all finance, accounting, and payroll functions for the organisation.
Nila (CGMA, ACMA) is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant. She is an associate member of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK)
Nila has over 25 years’ experience in finance and accounting and has worked overseas as well.
Nila Martin
Finance Manager
BA LLB John is a principal of the consumer law firm Berrill & Watson practising in superannuation, insurance & financial advice claims & disputes & is also a volunteer lawyer at Social Security Rights Victoria & the Mental Health Legal Centre.
John Berrill
Board Member
Ciara is a leader who believes in the power of cross-sector collaboration to make real change for people experiencing vulnerability and exclusion. She is motivated by her passion for human rights and her belief that everyone deserves an equitable system, adequate living standards, and to live free from discrimination.
As Founding CEO for the Thriving Communities Partnership, she convenes over 200 organisations, together with people with lived experience, to forge deeper understanding of vulnerability and drive ecosystem change through social design innovation.
She has over 20 years’ experience collaborating across corporate, government and community sectors to address the root causes of hardship and inequality. Ciara spent over 10 years in leadership roles at Yarra Valley Water, including as Head of Community Inclusion and she was recognised as the Australian Water Professional of the Year in 2018. She pioneered approaches to supporting customers experiencing vulnerability, hardship and family violence, and led the water industry’s response to the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence.