An inaugural seven person board will strengthen the independence of the Accident Compensation Conciliation Service (ACCS).
The ACCS helps resolve worker compensation disputes by bringing together workers, employers and WorkSafe agents in an informal, non-adversarial and free process.
The new ACCS Board – to be chaired by Julie Ligeti – will guide the organisation in providing a more efficient, independent and streamlined conciliation service for Victoria’s injured workers.
Ms Ligeti is the Global Manager of Public Advocacy with Cochlear Ltd and Chair of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
The new board brings extensive experience to the ACCS including dispute resolution, personal injury legislation, mediation and senior management skills.
In addition to Ms Ligeti, the board comprises:
- Meriel O’Sullivan (Deputy Chair), Director of Redd Consultancy
- Felicity Blair, an experienced practitioner in workers compensation law
- Michael Mitchell, a former conciliation officer with more than 30 years’ experience in workers compensation dispute resolution
- Tali Bernard, an experienced family law and alternative dispute resolution practitioner
- Iain Findlay, who has 20 years’ experience with Victoria Police and 15 years in senior management roles in the construction, travel, and conference-event management industries
- Kelly Humphreys, an experienced financial services executive and director of the Victorian Building Authority
The Government amended workers compensation legislation last year to strengthen the ACCS’s governance arrangements and improve the Service’s independence and accountability.
The ACCS operates independently of other parties in the workers compensation scheme, such as WorkSafe, its agents, self-insurers, employers and lawyers.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Finance Robin Scott
“This is about creating better outcomes for injured workers.”
“Establishing this Board will provide clearer lines of accountability, enhance the ACCS’s independence and allow for greater flexibility within the organisation.”
“It’s an exciting new era for the ACCS and I look forward to working with the Board.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020