Our team
Our small but dedicated team is made up of people from diverse fields, including media, research and the law.
Lynne Haultain
Executive Director
Lynne leads the Victoria Law Foundation team. She brings with her a wealth of experience in the fields of communications, journalism and management. For 16 years, she worked with ABC Radio, including a stint hosting The Law Report on Radio National. She has also worked at the ACCC, the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Ombudsman and as a consultant. She has degrees in Law and English from the University of Western Australia and holds qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Community Directors Australia and has attended the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership.
Professor Nigel J. Balmer
Research Director
As the head of the Foundation’s research team, Nigel oversees our research projects. He has over twenty years’ experience conducting empirical research. His prior work has focused on the role of law in everyday life, public understanding of the law, attitudes to justice, the design of legal services and more. In addition to his role at Victoria Law Foundation, Nigel is also Professor of Law and Social Statistics at University College London.
Kate Sedgwick
Education and Events Director
As the head of the VLF’s education and events team, Kate oversees the myriad of education and event activities offered by the VLF. With over 8 years of practical experience working as a litigation solicitor for Australia’s leading social justice law firm and several years working in education and events at one of the world’s top-ranking law schools, UNSW Law, Kate relishes the responsibility of successfully delivering the VLF's events program to the community and legal sector. As someone who was inspired to pursue a career in the law after attending a regional VLF event as a high school student, Kate feels privileged to now be able to oversee and provide strategic support for the schools programs offered by the VLF.
Staff
Administration
Cristina Gutierrez, PA to the Executive Director and Office Manager
Cherry Tunnock, Administration Officer
Fereshteh Homayoun, Executive Projects Officer
Communications
Leon Meyer, Communications Manager
Jackie Matthews, Communications Coordinator
Research
Prof Nigel J. Balmer, Research Director
Dr Hugh M. McDonald, Principal Researcher
Dr Jozica Kutin, Senior Researcher
Tenielle Hagland, Research Coordinator
Alex Partington, Research Coordinator
Clare Kennedy, Research Communications
Education and events
Kate Sedgwick, Education and Events Director
Community and corporate events
Helen Papadimitriou, Events Coordinator
Education schools program
Fabiola Superina, Education Manager
Nikita Batch, Education Officer
David Thomson OAM, Teacher-in-Residence
Grants
Melanie Rygl, Grants Manager