Our people

Jennifer Beveridge, CEO

Jennifer has been CEO of Tenants Victoria since June 2019. A collaborative not-for-profit leader, her experience spanning management and service delivery roles in housing, health, youth and community development over 25 years has been centred on the needs and aspirations of people in the community receiving those services.

Driven by social justice values, Jennifer’s operational skills are complemented by a grasp of public policy detail and what’s required for stakeholder engagement and successful advocacy. Many of her most satisfying work outcomes, Jennifer says, have been achieved at times when public policy and funding constraints required bold decision-making

Before she joined Tenants Victoria, Jennifer was CEO for seven years at Eating Disorders Victoria. She has also worked at Jesuit Social Services and Merri Health and lectured at La Trobe University. Jennifer’s initial training was as a clinical speech pathologist.

She also has two Master’s degrees – a Master of Strategic Foresight and an MBA, both from Swinburne University. In 2016, Jennifer was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and undertook a study program at Harvard University on how innovation and collaboration can improve service outcomes.

Kylie Betts, Director of People and Corporate Services

A human resources leader who has worked in Australia and overseas, Kylie’s professional experience spans the corporate, disability and broader not-for-profit sectors.

She has worked in human resources for the Energy Savings Trust in the UK, and in Melbourne for Kraft and the welfare agency Good Shepherd.

Kylie places a high priority on a partnership approach within Tenants Victoria to develop staff and internal culture and shape organisational capability.

Farah Farouque, Director of Community Engagement

Farah leads the Community Engagement Team and her portfolio spans advocacy, policy and research, media and communications and training.  Farah was previously Principal Advisor, Public Affairs and Policy, at the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

Before joining the community sector she was an Age journalist with roles including Law and Justice Editor, Social Affairs Editor and reporter from Federal Parliament’s Press Gallery and the Victorian Parliament Press Gallery.

Farah is also the Board Chair of The Social Studio, a social enterprise working with young people from refugee backgrounds.

Her professional awards include selection for the International Visitor Leadership Program in the United States and she has been a recipient of the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence.

Amy Frew, Director of Client Services (Acting)

Amy Frew came to Tenants Victoria from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), where she held key legal roles in Darwin and Alice Springs.

In Melbourne, she has previously worked as a solicitor at the intersection of law, policy and advocacy at the Human Rights Legal Centre.

Amy brings to her role practical experience in the field, strong values and commitment to helping people uphold their rights. As Director of Client Services she supports our team of talented lawyers and other frontline workers who apply their professional skills to make a difference for renters in our community

Carman Parsons, Director of Innovation

Carman Parsons is an experienced manager and leader who has worked in the Victorian legal-assistance sector for over 10 years on reforms to intake and referral, improving client experience, disaster legal services, online legal information and advice programs and diversity and inclusion action plans.

Carman takes a curious and creative approach to finding innovative solutions, changing organisational mindsets and supporting her colleagues in complex and high-demand environments.

Carman has qualifications in law, social policy and humanities and before joining the legal sector worked in sexual assault education and support, disability policy and diversity programs.

Agata Wierzbowski, Director of Client Services (Leave)

Agata leads our interdisciplinary Client Services Team comprised of lawyers, outreach workers and intake workers.

Her passion for building high-performing legal service teams has been shaped by over 10 years’ practice experience in the community legal sector and beyond.

She has worked in roles including as a solicitor at the Consumer Action Law Centre, policy manager at the Women’s Legal Service Victoria, and most recently as Executive Officer and Principal Lawyer at the St Kilda Legal Service. Agata has served on community boards including at Social Security Rights Victoria.

In 2015, she was awarded the Victorian Law Foundation Community Legal Centre Fellowship.

Judith Dickson, Chair 

Appointed: 23 January 2017

Judith practised as a litigation lawyer in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States before moving into legal education as a clinical academic at La Trobe Law School and then as Director of Practical Training at Leo Cussen Centre for Law. She now consults in legal education and training.

Judith began her involvement with community legal centres as a law student volunteer and continued as a volunteer lawyer and as a member of management committees and boards.

She was an early member of the Legal Aid Committee (Victoria) and a member of the board of PILCH (Victoria) (now Justice Connect), chairing its staffing sub-committee. She was on the international steering committee of GAJE (Global Alliance for Justice Education), chairing its first nominations committee and later its conference scholarship committee. She has also been a member of the executive committee of APLEC (Australasian Professional Legal Education Council).

Judith’s professional life is guided by the principle that the law should support, not obstruct, practical social justice. She sees Tenants Victoria’s work as also driven by that principle and is a determined supporter through her role as Chairperson of the board.

Judith has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws and Master of Adult Education (Global).

Special responsibilities: Chairperson, from 24 September 2018

Jolene Elberth

Appointed: 1 December 2023

Jolene Elberth is a public policy analyst and strategist with extensive experience leading campaigns for policy and legislative change.

She is a campaign manager at the Australian Conservation Foundation where she leads the organisations’ engagement with ASX 200 companies (the 200 largest companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange) on their climate and nature strategies.

Over her career Jolene has worked across a number of issue areas, including environment and climate change, refugee rights, homelessness, and criminal justice, and draws from this diverse experience to inform her decision making.

She is passionate about organisational culture, and believes that healthy workplace culture is fundamental to the success and effectiveness of any organisation.

Jolene holds a Bachelor of Sociology and a Master of Public Policy and Governance from the University of Melbourne.

Jiayue Li 

Appointed: 19 August 2019

Jiayue is a senior legal executive with extensive experience as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders and company boards across a range of sectors, including financial services, commercial property and healthcare.

Throughout her career, Jiayue has taken an interest in pro bono work with a focus on making legal services accessible to those who only infrequently interact with the legal and justice system.

Special responsibilities: Chair of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee

Clinton Licht

Appointed: 1 December 2021

Clinton is a digital transformation executive who has led large organisational changes across the globe. He first understands a business’s aims then leads the strategy and plan to achieve future goals for operational growth and consolidation.

Clinton has significant experience in the understanding of financial management, audit practices, corporate governance skills and the willingness and ability to think and act strategically. He is focused on transforming the experience that an organisation delivers to their customers through investment in technology and digitisation of their business.

Having been born in South Africa, and having travelled and lived extensively in different locations, Clinton brings diversity, experience and a perspective crossing different backgrounds and cultures to a broad range of challenges. He is passionate about giving back to the community.

Clinton is a full member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has undergraduate and master’s degrees in finance and technology.

Kristie Looney

Appointed: 1 December 2021

Kristie is an experienced leader from the not-for-profit, social enterprise and social service sectors. She is a senior executive with Uniting Vic Tas where she heads up the Housing and Property division, responsible for the delivery of the social housing growth strategy.

Kristie was the co-founder of a social-enterprise real estate business that generates profit to build homes for women and children at risk of homelessness.

She is passionate about cross-sector collaboration to develop innovative solutions to end homelessness. Her belief is that every person should have access to a safe, secure and affordable home, and that this has a direct impact on shaping just and healthy communities.

Kristie has a Bachelor of Social Science (Policy and Research) and a Master of Urban Planning.

Andrew Ogbourne 

Appointed: 5 March 2018

Andrew is a respected information technology management consultant with extensive experience leading ICT and digital renewal initiatives across Australia and a passion for helping people and organisations to recognise and respond to the complex challenges and opportunities that contemporary technologies present.

Andrew’s expertise in IT strategy, governance, program delivery and operational management of IT functions in public, private and non-profit organisations, combined with his experience in risk management and organisational change, allow him to provide a unique and valuable perspective to Tenants Victoria’s strategic direction, governance and organisational performance.

Andrew founded Pentridge Community Garden as a hub for urban residents in Melbourne’s north.

Andrew has a Bachelor of Science (Physics and Statistics). He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Eila Pourasgheri

Appointed: 1 December 2023

Eila Pourasgheri is director of Victoria Legal Aid’s Families team and before that worked at Women’s Legal Service Victoria, where she led Victoria’s first tailored family violence training program for lawyers.

Her earlier career journey took her from commercial litigation to government roles and social justice work in Vanuatu and Cambodia, before completing a master’s degree in human rights. She also has a Diploma of Governance from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Eila has long championed social justice and the work of lawyers in Victoria’s efforts to improve responses to family violence. Her advocacy to the state government, industry taskforce Family Safety Victoria and the Centre for Workforce Excellence has led to programs to support lawyers providing best practice, trauma-informed legal assistance to people affected by family violence.

She was awarded a Law Institute of Victoria distinguished service award in 2021.

Harry Smith

Appointed: 1 December 2023

Harry Smith has been a senior leader in health and human services organisations for more than 25 years, developing and implementing programs to support vulnerable people.

He is Head of Strategic Initiatives at Haven Home Safe, developing programs and initiates to tackle homelessness and increase the supply of social and affordable housing.

Harry has specific expertise in the programs relating to homelessness, affordable housing, disability support, family and domestic violence, children, youth and family, and LGBTQI+ people. He has worked in government and the not-for-profit sector to bring about meaningful and sustainable change in a sensitive, caring and client-focused manner.

Harry is also a lecturer at Kaplan Business School, delivering specialised health leadership programs for their flagship Master of Business Administration program, as well as economics and business management in the Master of Economics program.

His key qualifications are: Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business (Economics).

Kevin Bell

Professor the Honourable Kevin Bell AM KC is the inaugural Patron of Tenants Victoria.

Professor Bell, a distinguished jurist and human rights advocate, has a longstanding connection with Tenants Victoria. He was the first paid lawyer at the organisation, then called the Tenants Union of Victoria, from 1979 to 1981.

Professor Bell is a former senior jurist and advocate with extensive experience in the law, including commercial law, criminal law, common law, public law and human rights, including Indigenous rights.

He received the award of Member of the Order of Australia in 2017 for his ‘significant service to the law and to the judiciary, to native title and human rights, and the community’.

He is a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Commissioner of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee to develop the National Mental Health Commission Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy.

He was a professor in the area of international human rights law in the Faculty of Law at Monash University and Director of the faculty’s Castan Centre for Human Rights Law. He is now an Adjunct Professor in the faculty.

Professor Bell is also a Victorian Patron for the national Justice Reform Initiative, which aims to break the cycle of prison incarceration.