Marrickville Legal Centre (MLC), one of NSW’s largest community legal centres, has further strengthened its high-calibre Board with the appointment of tech and business process improvement expert Mark Lewis.
Lewis’ appointment closely follows the recent appointment of long-standing Board Director Catherine Kelso, Gilbert + Tobin’s Partner in Disputes and Investigations, as MLC Board Chair.
Lewis is the CEO of performance management platform Crewmojo and brings deep expertise in business strategy, organisational design, and technology and process improvement. His formidable experience will support MLC to strengthen systems and capacity in a sector defined by limited resources, high demand, and the need to respond effectively to clients facing complex and often vulnerable circumstances.
“We’re at a point where technology can deliver real productivity gains for organisations of all kinds, including those in the community sector. I hope to bring a practical lens to how MLC might leverage those opportunities, whether that’s improving how information flows, how cases are managed, or how the team’s time is protected for the work that matters most.”
Lewis’ decision to join the MLC Board is deeply informed by his own experiences navigating the justice system: “I’ve seen firsthand how disorienting it can be, even for someone reasonably comfortable with complex processes. For people facing significant moments in their lives without a legal background, and without the means to retain their own representation, it is genuinely frightening.”
He emphasises the critical role MLC plays for people in crisis: “The role MLC plays in those moments matters enormously. Being part of an organisation doing that work is something I feel genuinely committed to.”
Lewis said community legal centres operate in a uniquely demanding environment, where improving systems is ultimately about directing limited capacity where it can have the greatest impact.
“Technology improvement in this setting is about making sure the organisation’s capacity is directed where it has the most impact. My background in tech and HR means I think a lot about how people and systems work together, and how to introduce change in a way that actually sticks and doesn’t create new burdens.”
Lewis’ appointment reflects MLC’s focus on strengthening governance and organisational capability as demand for community legal services continues to grow. He joins a formidable Board, whose collective experience reflects the strength and reputation of MLC’s work across New South Wales:
- Ian Bennett: Local Managing Partner at Sparke Helmore Lawyers
- Danielle Etherington: CEO of Bongiorno & Partners (NSW)
- Graham Jenkins: Executive search specialist and leadership consultant
- Nancy Kabaara: COO of Good Return and Head of Risk and Resilience at ABC
- LJ Loch: Experienced Reputation Specialist and NFP director
- Ian Neil SC: Senior Counsel at 6 St James Hall Chambers
MLC welcomes Lewis’ contribution to the Board and the practical insight he brings to supporting a strong, responsive and sustainable organisation for the communities it serves.
Lewis said he looks forward to contributing to MLC’s mission while learning from the Board and staff’s deep expertise in access to justice: “Access to justice is one of those issues that sits at the intersection of fairness and practicality, and being part of an organisation working on it every day – for communities that really need it – is something I’m excited about.”
