About the presenter

Merrilyn Williams, is the Manager Operations of the Legal Profession Board of Tasmania, the independent body in Tasmania responsible for receiving and investigating complaints about the conduct of lawyers. She is also a member of the Legal Profession Board. To date, Merrilyn has been with the Board for 5 years. Until recently, Merrilyn was a legal member of TASCAT sitting in the protective divisions of guardianship and mental health, and previously MHT and GAB for over 13 years. She is a UTAS law graduate and has a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counselling, School of Psychology (UTAS). Merrilyn previously worked in private legal practice and as the Senior Legal Officer with the Department of Justice, Mental Health Tribunal. She is an experienced legal, investigation, mental health and disability specialist working in investigation, mental health and disability areas. 

Richard Scaife was admitted in 2002 and has a diverse background in legal and regulatory roles including private practice, local government, in-house legal consultant, compliance (banking and investment management) and regulatory roles (health, and now legal).  Richard has also had exposure to criminal and civil litigation at a State and Federal level as he served terms as Associate to then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, the Honourable William Cox and the Honourable Justice Duncan Kerr of the Federal Court of Australia.  Richard has also had experience serving on the Board of two not-for-profit organisations and is currently Chair of a school association.