Board Members

Kristy Bourne was appointed Secretary, Department of Justice in January 2025 and was previously the Deputy Secretary, Justice & Reform within the Department of Justice. A former practicing lawyer, Ms Bourne is recognised as an effective, values-based leader with a passion for the Justice and Corrections sectors and a broad operational knowledge. Her career includes experience with Victorian firm Freehills and the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, as well as the Chief of Staff to Tasmanian Attorney-General, the late Honourable Dr Vanessa Goodwin MLC.

Geoffrey has extensive experience in personal injury law, acting for injured workers, motor accident victims and insurers. He represented the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB) and Allianz Australia Insurance Limited for more than 20 years, and CGU and its predecessors for approximately 12 years. He is currently on the panel of solicitors for the Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme in Tasmania.

Geoffrey was admitted to practice in 1981 and worked continuously as a barrister and solicitor since completing his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Tasmania. He spent his early career with Crisp, Hudson & Mann, becoming a partner in 1984, before joining Griffiths and Jackson in 1999, (later Jackson Tremayne and eventually Tremayne, Fay, Rheinberger), where he served as Partner and Director until 2021; and continued as a Principal at the firm until 30 June 2025. From 1 July 2025 he has practised as a barrister and solicitor in his own practice.

He has also contributed to the legal profession, serving 6 years on the WorkCover Board Tasmania and chairing its Legislative Review Committee. He was a member of the Council of the Law Society of Tasmania, serving terms as Treasurer, Vice-President and President, during a period of significant organisational change. He is the chairman of Parkside Foundation, a disability service provider that employees over 150 people and has held that position for approximately 20 years.

Sofia is based in Adelaide and has extensive experience in the management of underwritten and statutory workers compensation claims in Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales, and in compulsory third party claims in the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia. She has 27 years of personal injury claims experience across insurers, the South Australian workers compensation regulator and with South Australia’s largest self-insurer. She has held executive positions overseeing legal, medical and allied health provider management, fraud and investigations, recoveries and injury and case management for various national and state public and private sector organisations. Sofia has postgraduate qualifications in business management and has begun postgraduate studies in human resource management. She has completed the Company Directors Course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and other professional development courses focused on strategic thinking, leadership and stakeholder engagement.

Elected to the peak body for unions in Tasmania in 2017, Jessica is the leader of the trade union movement in Tasmania. Unions Tasmania represents approximately 50,000 workers across the private and public sector. She represents Tasmanian workers on the executive of the national peak body for unions, the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Jessica is an experienced industrial relations practitioner. Before leading Unions Tasmania, she worked with the Community and Public Sector Union for 12 years, including three years as regional secretary of the branch where she worked with members on industrial matters, workplace health and safety and workers compensation issues. She is a trustee director of an industry superannuation fund, and president and treasurer of the community legal centre Worker Assist. Jessica has a degree in Political Science and Public Policy, a Certificate IV in Unionism and a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety. Jessica has completed the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Trustee Directors course and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Julieann has over 30 years employer-based experience in safety, occupational rehabilitation and workers compensation insurance. She has held executive positions overseeing national and state safety, workers compensation, and injury management functions. Julieann is a past chair of the Self Insurer’s Association of Tasmania and prior member of the Nominal Insurer. She is currently the Tasmanian manager of a large self insurer. Julieann is an occupational therapist with a Masters in Ageing and postgraduate qualifications in occupational rehabilitation, ergonomics, human resources, and management. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Rob has been a practising general practitioner in Hobart for over 37 years. He has been the medical director of the Board since 1997 and has extensive experience on a number of boards and councils, including those of Primary Health Tasmania, the Australian Divisions of General Practice, the Cancer Council of Tasmania, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council, Headspace, Beyond Blue, and Rural Alive & Well. Rob sits as a part-time member on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. He was a national Men’s Health Ambassador, advising the Australian Government on policy relating to male health matters. Rob has served in the Australian Defence Force since 1972, most recently as the Senior Medical Officer for the Australian Defence Force, Tasmanian Region in an Army Reserve capacity, holding the rank of Colonel.