Tribunal Members
The Tribunal has a President and Tribunal members who make decisions under the Act.
When the Tribunal holds hearings, it usually sits in panels of three. One member of the panel is a lawyer, one is a psychiatrist, and the third is a community member.
Tribunal members are independent statutory officers appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister. They do not work for the hospital or health service treating the patient.
President – The Hon Dr Andrew Lu AM
Dr Andrew Lu AM is President of the Mental Health Tribunal, responsible for the oversight and efficient conduct of specified functions outlined in the Mental Health Act. Immediately prior to his appointment, Dr Lu was a dispute resolution partner of HBA Legal. He practised as a casualty and commercial insurance solicitor and mediator for over 21 years, and appeared as a trial and appellate advocate before State and Federal Courts on behalf of hospitals and health practitioners, insurers, and Government, in civil, coronial and disciplinary matters. He was noted annually in Best Lawyers as one of Australia’s leading Heath and Aged Care solicitors. An experienced decision-maker, he was a sessional member of the State Administrative Tribunal for four years, and a deputy member of the Reproductive Technology Council. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Curtin Law School.
Committed to good governance in the public and non-profit sector, he is a board member of Special Broadcasting Service, Arts Law Centre of Australia, Australian Youth Orchestra, and Melbourne International Film Festival. He has also served on the Calvary Health Care ACT Human Research Ethics Committee, National Gallery of Australia Foundation, as a Councillor of the Art Gallery of WA Foundation, and as Deputy Chair of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA.
Dr Lu is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and the Governance Institute, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Western Australia, he holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Laws from New England, and a research Doctorate in Law from The Australian National University. Awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2008, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021 for significant service to the arts, to the law, and to legal education.
Legal Members
The Tribunal has one full-time legal member, three part-time legal members, and two sessional legal members.
Camille Woodward
Ms Woodward is a full-time legal member appointed from 1 February 2020 for five years. She commenced in this role on 3 February 2020. Ms Woodward was admitted to practise in the Supreme Court of Victoria on 3 November 1999, and was employed as a generalist lawyer in country Victoria before commencing with Victoria Legal Aid in July 2002. Ms Woodward held a number of positions at Victoria Legal Aid, practising primarily as a criminal law advocate, representing adults and children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (criminal justice) (RMIT), Bachelor of Laws (LaTrobe Universty) and Masters of Human Rights Law (Monash University). She is an accredited criminal law specialist (2008). Prior to commencing with the Tribunal Camille was a sessional member with the Victorian Mental Health Tribunal for nearly 10 years.
Nicola Findson
Ms Findson is a part-time legal member appointed on 1 December 2020, for five years. She was previously a sessional member appointed in 2019. Ms Findson holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) from Murdoch University. She was admitted to legal practice in 2000, and has worked in legal roles primarily within the public sector since that time, including Legal Aid Western Australia, the Corruption and Crime Commission and the Australian Crime Commission.
Ms Findson is also currently a part-time member of the Migration and Refugee Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Christine Kannis
Ms Kannis is a part-time legal member appointed on 29 October 2019 for five years. She holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Commerce, all of which were awarded by the University of Western Australia. Christine was admitted to practise law in Western Australia in 1981.
Ms Kannis is also currently a part-time member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and hears matter in the Migration Review Division and the Social Security & Child Support Division. Before joining the AAT she served as deputy chair of the Prisoners Review Board and as a part-time member of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal. Previously Ms Kannis was the chair of the Optometrists Registration Board of WA and she has served as a member of the Community Advisory Committee at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
Danielle Winzenried
Ms Winzenried is a part-time legal member appointed on 1 February 2023. She was admitted to legal practice in Western Australia on 4 November 2003 practising in torts litigation, and has experience as an Investigative Officer at the Legal Profession Complaints Committee, and at the Federal Court of Australia (International Judicial Development Programs).
She also has over ten years’ experience working in the non-government sector across children’s rights, refugee and migrant support, indigenous affairs, and in aged care policy. Ms Winzenried has a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Arts and a Certificate of Social Impact from the University of Western Australia, and a Master of Social Development from the University of New South Wales.
Sessional Legal Members
Kristy Bradshaw (since 2022)
Andrea McCallum (since 2014)
Psychiatrist Members
The Tribunal has 11 sessional psychiatrist members:
Dr Dawn Barker (since 2015)
Dr Ann Bell (since 1999)
Dr Rowan Davidson (since 2016)
Dr Kevin Dodd (since 2011)
Dr Fiona Krantz (since 2015)
Dr David Lord (since 2016)
Professor Helen Milroy AM (since 2019)
Dr Mircea Schineanu (since 2017)
Dr Nicola Simmonds (since 2022)
Dr Bryan Tanney (since 2005)
Dr Helen Ward (since 2017)
Community Members
The Tribunal has three part-time community members, and five sessional community members.
Manjit Kaur
Ms Kaur is a part-time community member appointed on 29 October 2019 for five years. Prior to her recent appointment as a part-time community member, Ms Kaur was a sessional community member of the Tribunal since 2011.
The Hon Keith Wilson AM
Mr Wilson is a part-time community member appointed on 29 October 2019 for five years. Prior to his recent appointment, Mr Wilson was a sessional community member of the Tribunal since 2014. He is a former Member of the WA Parliament (1977 – 1993) and a Member of State Cabinet (1983 – 1992) including 5 years as Minister for Health. He earlier worked as an Anglican Priest (1962 – 1976) and a School Teacher (1956 – 1958). He served as Chair of the Mental Health Council of Australia (2000 – 2006) and the WAAMH (1999 – 2006) and as a Board Member of MIFWA , the Ministerial Advisory Council on Disability and St John of God Health Care. He is currently a Director of the mental health charity, Meeting for Minds. He was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to mental health in government in 2001 and made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2009 for service to people with mental illness and their carers.
Sarah Tunzi
Mrs Tunzi is a part-time community member, appointed on 1 February 2023. Sarah originally hails from regional Western Australia and is a respected manager and leader who has worked across a range of industries including small business, hospitality, the care of children and the elderly, and a mentor and counsellor to young adults. She is passionate about serving the community and empowering others to achieve their potential, and brings empathy and substantial lived experience supporting loved ones with mental illness.
Sessional Community Members
Jennifer Bridge-Wright (since 2014)
Renee McLennan (since 2022)
Leone Shiels (since 2011)
Ann White (since 2011)
Dr Andrew Cichy (since 2022)
Page reviewed 17 March 2023