Felicity Hampel AM SC was appointed Chairperson of the Post Sentence Authority on 9 April 2024.
Felicity is a former judge of the County Court, where she served with distinction from 2005 to 2023. She previously practised as a barrister, including nine years as senior counsel. Most of Felicity’s work, both as a judge and as counsel, was in the areas of criminal, human rights and administrative law.
Beyond her experience as a judge and barrister, Felicity’s past positions include: Commissioner of the Victorian Law Reform Commission, President of Liberty Victoria, Board Member of the Royal Women’s Hospital and Adjunct Professor at Monash University’s Faculty of Law. Felicity was also a founding member of Australian Women Lawyers and the Women Barristers Association, Vice-Chair of the Victorian Bar Readers Course Committee, and a member of the Victorian Bar Equality before the Law Committee. She is also a nationally and internationally renowned leader in the development and delivery of advocacy training programs for law students and practitioners.
Stuart Ward is the Deputy Chairperson having acted in the Chairperson’s role between 16 January 2024, following Michele Williams KC’s resignation, and appointment of the new Chairperson on 9 April 2024. He has been Deputy Chairperson of the Authority since 2019.
Stuart has extensive experience in criminal law, legal management, and statutory decision-making. Having worked as a prosecutor and manager at the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) for 10 years, he returned to the OPP in 2007 as its inaugural Legal Practice Manager with executive responsibility for its legal practice and victim services. He was appointed as acting Solicitor for Public Prosecutions for 2008-2009.
Stuart served as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Adult Parole Board from 2014-2019, where he was instrumental in reforming and modernising the organisation and the parole system. He has held statutory decision-making appointments with Business Licensing Authority (Deputy Chairperson, 1999-2007), Motor Car Traders’ Claims Committee (Chairperson, 2001-2007), and as acting Director of Liquor Licensing (2006).