ACAT Members

ACAT Members are appointed on a full-time, part-time or sessional basis to conduct hearings, mediations and conferences and make decisions on applications before ACAT.

ACAT members are appointed by the Attorney-General under the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008 after an open merit-based recruitment process.  They are selected on the basis of their skills and abilities against criteria such as knowledge and technical skills relevant to the jurisdiction and procedures of ACAT, communication skills, experience in relation to decision-making and dispute resolution, professionalism and integrity.

Once appointed, members receive regular training in areas of law relevant to their practice, including about major changes in the law and in discussion groups about ACAT's operations. Members are regularly advised of new decisions and developments in relevant areas of the law.

The President allocates members to deal with applications considering the nature, importance and complexity of the matter, as well as any legislative requirements for the type of matter to be heard. Members are allocated to hear and decide a particular application with regard to their qualifications, expertise, experience and availability.

Full-time and part-time presidential and senior members

Daniel, Mary-Therese - President

McCarthy, Geoffrey - Presidential Member

Robinson, Heidi - Presidential Member

Orlov, Michael - Senior Member

Acting presidential members

Kyprianou, Thena

Temporary presidential members

Katavic, Kristy (until 26 March 2024)

Sessional senior members

Anforth, Allan

Arthur, Richard

Bailey, Robyn

Beacroft, Laura

Biginell, Nigel

Brennan, Mary

Byrne, Donald

Collins, Bruce

Creyke, Robin

Davies, Robyn

Donohoe, Louise

Drake, Lea

Ferguson, Elspeth

Foley, Anthony

Francis, Jennifer

Hassall, Douglas

Hawkins, Lincoln

Herrick, Stephen

Hyman, Mark

Kalokerinos, John

Kerslake, David

Kyprianou, Thena (also Acting Presidential Member)

Lancken, Steve

Lovell, Denis

Lubbe, Katherine

Matheson, Marie

Meagher, Bryan

Mulligan, Dominic

Norrie, Peter

Orr, Robert

Pegrum, Annabelle

Sinclair, Michael

Spender, Peta

Stamatellis, Stamatia

Stewart, Daniel

Sutherland, Peter

Tomlins, George

Trickett, Graeme

Turner, Graeme

Wagstaff, Bruce

Warwick, Theresa

Wilson, Andrew

Sessional ordinary members

Bennett, Elizabeth

Carnell, Clare

Close, Leanne

Coleman, Paul

Delahunt, Anne-Marie

Eylward, Felicity

Hanna, Mark

Hatami, Parastou

Hawkins, Walter

Helyar, Susan

Keller, Sheriden

Lucas, Dianne

Mayes, Leasa

McGlynn, Lisa

Morris, Athol

Morrison, Emma

Newmarch, Eileen

Sansum, Catherine

Trickett, Elizabeth

Williams, Athol

Wilson, Mirjana

How to address an ACAT Member

Your case may be heard by one or more ACAT Members, depending on the complexity and the type of case that is being heard.

Each ACAT Member will have a name plate in front of them that identifies them by title and name. In most cases, this is how you should address them, although this will depend on your case. You can ask the ACAT Member at the start of the hearing how they would like to be addressed.

A guide to how to address members is:

  • President of ACAT - "President"
  • Presidential Member - "Presidential Member"
  • Senior Member - "Senior Member"
  • Ordinary Member - "Member"
  • If there is more than one Member presiding - use their title and last name (for example, "Senior Member Smith").

ACAT Members also convene conferences, which are more informal than hearings. Sometimes at a conference, an ACAT Member will ask you to call them by their first name.

ACAT also has a Registrar and Deputy Legal Registrars (you can address them by these titles). They convene conferences and hear some cases.

You can ask an ACAT Member, Registrar or Deputy Legal Registrar to clarify how they would like to be addressed at any time.

More information

We also have information about:

Glossary and terms

Glossary and terms

ACT Civil and Administrative TribunalA tribunal established under the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. It may also be referred to as ACAT or Tribunal.

Adjourn (or adjournment)To suspend or postpone a preliminary conference, mediation or hearing and reschedule it for a future date.

Administrative reviewACAT has jurisdiction to review some administrative decisions made by the ACT Government. Find out about Review of ACT Government decisions.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)Also known as dispute resolution. This is a way of resolving disputes without a formal hearing. It may involve a preliminary conference or mediation. ADR is used to help parties resolve cases by agreement.

AnorMeans ‘and another’. This term is generally used to name parties to proceedings when there is more than one applicant or respondent.

Appeal TribunalA tribunal constituted under section 81 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal 2008 to review a decision of the tribunal (not all ACAT decisions are appealable at ACAT – you may need to go to the Supreme Court).

AppellantThe individual or company that appeals an ACAT decision.

ApplicantThe individual or company that brings a case to ACAT, usually by making an application.

Authorising lawsA law that says an application (including referrals) may be made to ACAT. An authorising law may also set out the powers ACAT has in a case. Also see ‘jurisdiction’.

Calling a witnessA party or their representative will ‘call a witness’ at an ACAT hearing when they ask a witness to give evidence.

CaseAlso known as a matter, dispute, application or referral. Cases come to ACAT when ACAT has jurisdiction (power) to make a decision.

Cross-examinationThe process of asking a witness questions to test or check the evidence that the witness has given to ACAT.

DecisionWhat the tribunal decides or determines about an issue or a dispute. The tribunal may sometimes explain why in a statement of reasons.

Defined benefitsare the following benefits (see section 33 of the MAI Act):

  1. income replacement benefits;
  2. treatment and care benefits;
  3. quality of life benefits;
  4. death benefits;
  5. funeral benefits.

Deliver a decisionAlso ‘handing down a decision’. This is giving a decision about an ACAT case. It may be done verbally or in writing (or both).

DirectionsInstructions that set out what each party must do (and when), often to prepare a case for hearing.

Directions hearingA short hearing where an ACAT Member or Registrar decides how to manage a case and what needs to be done before a hearing. Find out about directions hearings.

Ex parte orderAn order made by ACAT where one or more parties were not present.

Expert reportA written report from an expert that may be used as evidence.

Expert witnessA person with specialised knowledge based on their training, study or experience. An expert can give evidence at a hearing. Find out more about witness statements.

Final directions hearingSometimes ACAT will hold a final directions hearing prior to the final hearing of an application. The purpose is to make sure the case is ready to go to a hearing and give the parties a chance to ask questions about the hearing process.

GuardianA guardian is a person ACAT appoints to make personal decisions, about health, welfare and where a person lives, for a person who has impaired decision-making ability (the ‘protected person’).

Handed upGiving documents to an ACAT Member or Registrar in a hearing.

In chambersWhen ACAT considers something without holding a hearing.

Joined party (joined/joinder)A party who was not originally a party to the dispute but has later been added to the case.

JurisdictionACAT’s authority (power) to deal with, hear and decide applications (cases).

LeaveIf someone asks for leave, they are usually asking for permission to do something.

List (or listing)A schedule (or list) of cases to be heard at ACAT each day.

Listing noticeA letter or written document from ACAT that sets out when a conference, mediation or hearing is scheduled at ACAT.

ManagerA manager is a person ACAT appoints to make decisions, about property and money, for a person with impaired decision-making ability (the ‘protected person’).

MAI ActMotor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (ACT).

MediationA private meeting where parties discuss ways to resolve their dispute, with the help of an impartial mediator (who is also an ACAT Member or Registrar). It is held under section 35 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008.

Non-publication and/or non-disclosure orderAlso called a ‘suppression order’. It is an order that requires certain information not to be published or disclosed. It is made under section 39 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. Find out about public hearings and confidentiality.

Notice to partiesA letter sent to the parties in a case that sets out the time, date and location for an ACAT conference, mediation or hearing.

Opening statementUsually means a statement made at the beginning of a hearing to outline the key points in the case. Sometimes parties are asked to give an opening statement at a mediation or preliminary conference.

OrderA direction or instruction of the tribunal that a person do a certain thing. The tribunal can make different types of orders depending on the case type and the tribunal’s powers in a case or dispute.

Originating applicationAn application that starts an ACAT case.

Party or partiesAn individual or company directly involved in an ACAT case, for example an applicant or respondent. Find out how to identify and name parties.

Preliminary conferenceA private meeting where parties discuss ways to resolve their dispute with the help of an ACAT Member or Registrar. See section 33 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. ACAT has different types of preliminary conferences.

Protected personA person who has impaired decision-making ability and about whom an application to ACAT may be made seeking orders under the Guardianship and Management of Property Act 1991 or the Power of Attorney Act 2006.

RegistryThe administrative section of ACAT that accepts documents lodged by parties, handles enquiries and provides support for case management.

Relevant insurerfor a motor accident, means the insurer under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (see section 34) of the motor vehicle considered to be at fault for the motor accident in the ACT.

RepresentativeA person who represents or advocates for an individual or company at a conference, mediation or hearing at ACAT. For example, a legal practitioner or an attorney appointed under a general power of attorney.

Reserved decisionWhen an ACAT Member or Registrar reserves a decision (at the end of a hearing), this means they will give their decision later, either verbally or in writing (sometimes both).

RespondentThe party (or parties) against whom orders or relief is sought.

Serve/serviceA person who can give evidence at a hearing. Find out about witness statements.

Short service orderAn order that authorises a shorter time for service (than the time otherwise required).

Significant occupational impact (SOI)Significant impact on an injured person’s ability to undertake employment.

Statement of reasonsA document that explains why ACAT made an order in a case. It sets out the law relied on by an ACAT Member or Registrar and explains how the law was applied to the facts of the case. You can request a written statement of reasons within 14 days after an order is made. Find out about statement of reasons.

StayAn order for a particular action (or decision) to be put on hold or suspended for a period of time.

SubmissionA document that sets out your side of a case or dispute and the relevant law. It is presented to ACAT either in writing, verbally or both. Find out about submissions.

SubpoenaRequires a person to appear at ACAT to give evidence or provide documents (or both). Find out about subpoenas.

Substituted service orderAn order that says how a party is to be served with an application or other documents related to the proceedings. In a civil dispute or a rental dispute, an applicant will need to consider asking for a substituted service order if they do not have a physical address for the respondent. Find out about lodging and serving documents.

WitnessA person who can give evidence at a hearing. Find out about witness statements.