PilchConnect Staff
Juanita Pope
Director (on extended leave)
Juanita is the Director at PilchConnect. She was admitted to legal practice in 2004, and since then has worked in a range of professional environments including a court, university, corporate law firm and the arts, as well as in the community sector. At PilchConnect, Juanita regularly advises and facilitates training and information on not-for-profit legal issues groups, and also has expertise in intellectual property law and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander legal policy. Juanita is a keen supporter of the arts, and volunteers as a committee member of a small not-for-profit theatre company.
Nathan MacDonald
Acting Director (full time)
Nathan is the Acting Director of PilchConnect in Juanita Pope's absence. Previously, Nathan was a Research Associate with the Federal Court of Australia, after which he moved to a commercial law firm. He joined PilchConnect at the beginning of 2009 and since that time has provided legal advice and face-to-face training to a diverse range of community organisations across Victoria. Outside of his work with PilchConnect, Nathan is a registered migration agent and provides pro bono legal support to asylum seekers and refugees both in Melbourne and in remote detention facilities. Nathan was short listed for the Law Institute of Victoria's ‘Rising Star' award in 2011.
Kate Fischer
Manager - Training (2.5 days per week)
Kate is the Manager of Training at PilchConnect, and has worked at Pilch since 2003. Prior to that, Kate lectured in law at the University of Melbourne and worked in a commercial law firm. Kate's main role at PilchConnect is coordinating PilchConnect's legal training programs for community groups, as well as presenting training with other members of the PilchConnect team. She enjoys getting out of the office to speak with community organisations across Victoria and hear their stories. Kate has been involved in a number of community childcare organisations and was previously on the Board of a women's housing organisation.
Kate Fazio
Manager - Legal Information (9 days per fortnight)
Kate is the Manager of Legal Information at PilchConnect. Kate is focused on extending the range and accessibility of legal information available for not-for-profits - particularly through using new technologies. Kate joined the team in August 2012, coming from King & Wood Mallesons where she was a competition and consumer lawyer. Kate has worked in the not-for-profit sector co-ordinating a school mentoring program for the Australian Business and Community Network and has also worked and volunteered in television, radio and for arts organisations. Kate is a director on the board of St Mary's House of Welcome, and on her day off enjoys printmaking at a studio in Fitzroy.
Charlotte Ahearne
Manager - Advice (9 days per fortnight)
Charlotte is the Manager of PilchConnect's Advice and Referral Service. Charlotte is responsible for facilitating pro bono legal advice for community organisations. Previously, Charlotte practised for 4 years as a commercial litigator and employment lawyer in corporate law firms. She was previously the manager of Public Interest Referrals at PILCH, facilitating pro bono assistance for individuals and organisations experiencing systemic disadvantage. Charlotte joined the PilchConnect team in March 2013. She enjoys sharing her love of literature through her bookclub and by volunteering with a new writer's centre in Footscray aimed at building kids' literacy skills and confidence.
Phoebe Duggan
Lawyer (full time)
Phoebe joined PilchConnect as a lawyer in 2010, after completing a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice through the Leo Cussen Institute. Phoebe is committed to assisting marginalised and disadvantaged members of the community, and regularly advises the organisations that support those individuals on issues such as incorporation, taxation, and the legal issues in managing volunteers. She regularly contributes to the PilchConnect e-bulletin and is finally getting the hang of social media (follow us at www.twitter.com/pilchconnect). Phoebe has a strong interest in travel and international development and has completed volunteer placements in Papua New Guinea and Ghana.
Simone Ball
Lawyer (full time)
Simone is a Lawyer in the PilchConnect team. She began her legal career in a commercial law firm in 2007 and joined PilchConnect in October 2011. Simone regularly advises community organisations on a range of legal issues, and has particular expertise in the area of intellectual property law and an interest in legal issues involved in social media. Simone also coordinates PilchConnect's CBD Seminar Series - providing not-for-profits access to training run by legal specialists. Outside the office, Simone enjoys acting and learning French.
Tarni Perkal
Lawyer (3 days per week)
Tarni has completed a post-graduate diploma in political science and recently completed her law degree. Tarni has worked with small grass roots not-for-profit organisations committed to social and environmental justice since 2005, in a community development position and a grants program. She has been with PilchConnect since its establishment in 2008, and works mainly with the legal advice team. She loves to learn languages and travel.
Benjamin Golby
Administrator (full time)
Benjamin supports the PilchConnect team of lawyers in providing telephone advice, pro bono referrals, law reform, and training in the Melbourne CBD and regional Victoria. Benjamin has previously worked at the Employment Law Centre of Western Australia as well as spending many years in sound engineering. He is rather keen on harmony and composition but mostly likes cricket.
Hilary Taylor
Web Coordinator (2 days per week)
Hilary is in her final year of an Arts/Law degree. She has worked in various small roles for PilchConnect before becoming a permanent member of the team in March 2013. Hilary co-ordinates the PilchConnect Webportal and assists with the production of legal resources for not-for-profit organisations. In her spare time, Hilary enjoys running and is a keen scuba diver.
Patrick Purcell
Secondee lawyer (full time)
Patrick is responsible for providing pro bono legal advice to community organisations on a range of compliance and regulatory matters. Patrick is on secondment from Norton Rose Australia where he is an Associate in the Environment & Planning group. In this role, Patrick has been involved in planning based work including advice, appeals to VCAT and the Supreme Court and compulsory land acquisition disputes. Patrick also regularly attends the Senior Rights Legal Clinic which is a specialist legal service established by PILCH in order to respond to elder abuse and to assist clients with other issues associated with ageing.
Kate Taylor
Volunteer
Kate has been volunteering with PilchConnect since September 2012, helping with legal research and publications for the PilchConnect Webportal. Kate is currently studying law at Monash University, and has a strong interest in constitutional and administrative law. As well as volunteering at PilchConnect, she has undertaken work placements in Sri Lanka and Nepal.