About us
The role of the Commission
The Personal Injury Commission resolves disputes between people injured in motor accidents and workplaces in NSW, insurers and employers.
The Commission is an independent statutory tribunal within the New South Wales justice system, committed to providing a transparent and independent dispute resolution service.
Resolving disputes justly and efficiently in the shortest time frame is a priority for the Commission. We work with all parties (injured persons, insurers, and employers, where relevant) to discuss ways of achieving this.
The Commission exercises functions in two divisions – the Motor Accidents Division and the Workers Compensation Division.
The work of the Commission is done by the President, Deputy Presidents, Division Heads, Principal Registrar, Members, Merit Reviewers, Mediators, and Medical Assessors, as well as legal and operational staff.
Our Venues for Dispute Resolution Services
The Personal Injury Commission delivers tribunal services across New South Wales through a mix of physical, virtual and hybrid venues. As a modern tribunal, the Commission has a strong digital and virtual presence to best serve injured people and tribunal users in NSW. See more on the Resources Page.
Commission members
Our members and partners are:
President and Deputy Presidents
The President and Deputy Presidents are the Commission’s presidential members.
Judge Gerard Phillips is the President of the Commission. Judge Phillips works closely with the Principal Registrar and Division Heads to provide strategic leadership to the Commission. He is also responsible for appointing medical assessors, merit reviewers and mediators, determining novel or complex questions of law, issuing procedural directions and other administrative and legal tasks. The President also exercises a variety of functions under legislation, which can be delegated to members of the Commission or members of staff.
The Deputy Presidents are Mr Michael Snell and Ms Elizabeth Wood. Mr Geoffrey Parker SC, Ms Kylie Nomchong SC and Mr Michael Perry are Acting Deputy Presidents.
All presidential members hear appeals against decisions made by members in the Workers Compensation Division.
Division Heads
The Personal Injury Commission is made up of two divisions. Each division has an appointed division head whose role is to direct the day-to-day business of the division.
Glenn Capel is the Head of the Workers Compensation Division.
Marie Johns is the Head of the Motor Accidents Division.
Principal Registrar
Marianne Christmann is the Principal Registrar of the Commission. The Principal Registrar provides high-level, executive leadership and strategic advice to the President and assists the President in managing the business and affairs of the Commission. This includes responsibility for the Registry and the staff and resources of the Commission.
Members
Members are experienced, independent decision-makers who are appointed by the Commission to help resolve disputes. They have a detailed understanding of the workers compensation system and/or the motor accidents system, as well as the interests of all involved.
Members conduct Commission proceedings in a way that is fair to all parties. At each stage, the member will encourage and assist parties to resolve their dispute by finding a solution that is agreeable to everyone involved. If the parties cannot agree on a solution, the member will decide the dispute, after hearing the submissions of the parties and considering the evidence filed.
Members also sit on appeal and review panels which determine appeals and reviews of decisions made by medical assessors and merit reviewers.
Principal Members
Josephine Bamber
John Harris
Senior Members
Elizabeth Beilby
Kerry Haddock
Brett Williams
General Members
Full time
Workers Compensation Division | Motor Accidents Division | Dual Appointment |
---|---|---|
Cameron Burge | Belinda Cassidy | Susan McTegg |
Rachel Homan | Alexander Bolton | Terence O’Riain |
John Isaksen | Ray Plibersek | |
Jaqueline Snell | ||
Gaius Whiffin |
Sessional
Workers Compensation Division | Motor Accidents Division | Dual Appointment |
---|---|---|
Brett Batchelor | Stephen Boyd-Boland | Michael Inglis |
Diana Benk | Terrence Broomfield | Anthony Scarcella |
Stephen Churches | Maurice Castagnet | Cameron Thompson |
Marshal Douglas | Allan Cowley | Philip Young |
Lea Drake | Robert Foggo | |
Karen Garner | David Ford | |
Anne Gracie | Hugh Macken | |
Catherine McDonald | Elizabeth Medland | |
Deborah Moore | Bridie Nolan | |
Michael Moore | Gary Patterson | |
Jane Peacock | Shana Radnan | |
Richard Perrignon | Terence Stern | |
Carolyn Rimmer | Elyse White | |
Christopher Wood | ||
Paul Sweeney | ||
Jill Toohey | ||
John Turner | ||
Michael Wright | ||
Christopher Wynyard | ||
Michael McGrowdie |
Merit Reviewers
The Commission's merit reviewers exercise functions in the Motor Accident Division. They determine statutory benefit disputes under Schedule 2, 1 of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017.
Some merit reviewers also hold a dual appointment as a member of the Motor Accident Division.
Josephine Bamber | John Harris | Shana Radnan |
Alexander Bolton | Michael Inglis | Katherine Ruschen |
Stephen Boyd-Boland | Hugh Macken | Anthony Scarcella |
Terrence Broomfield | Susan McTegg | Kriesen Seeneevassen |
Belinda Cassidy | Elizabeth Medland | Terence Stern |
Maurice Castagnet | Bridie Nolan | Cameron Thompson |
Allan Cowley | Terence O'Riain | Elyse White |
Robert Foggo | Gary Patterson | Brett Williams |
David Ford | Raymond Plibersek | Philip Young |
Mediators
The Commission's mediators exercise functions in the Workers Compensation Division. They assist parties to resolve work injury damages disputes.
The parties must first participate in mediation.
Mediations can be conducted in Sydney or in a regional location, and can also be conducted via video. During the mediation, the mediator attempts to bring the parties to agreement. If the parties are not able to agree, the worker may then commence court proceedings.
Ross Bell | Kathy Ireland | Dennis Nolan |
Lara Bishkov | John Ireland | Philippa O'Dea |
Laurence Boulle | Katherine Johnson | Richard Perrignon |
Calvin (Jak) Callaway | John Keogh | Anthony Scarcella |
Philip Carr | Bianca Keys | Paul Sweeney |
Janice Connelly | Stephen Lancken | John Tancred |
Catherine Davidson | Margaret McCue | John Whelan |
Geri Ettinger | Michael McGrowdie | Christopher Wood |
David Flynn | John McGruther | |
Robert Foggo | Garry McIlwaine | |
Nina Harding | Christopher Messenger |
Medical Assessors
Medical assessors are highly experienced medical and allied health practitioners who are qualified in a range of specialities. They conduct medical assessments to determine certain aspects of a dispute, such as assessing the degree of permanent impairment resulting from an injury. They can also provide decisions about an injured person’s medical condition, whether the injury is a threshold injury, for the provision of medical treatment and their fitness for employment.
Medical assessors are engaged directly by the Commission and are independent of any party to a dispute. They are appointed to provide independent assessments and do not give clinical advice or provide treatment to the injured person.
Medical assessors also sit on medical appeal panels and medical review panels. Medical assessors may be appointed to one or both divisions of the Commission.
The list of medical assessors and the divisions they are appointed are provided by medical specialty and by the medical assessor’s surname.
Employment opportunities
The Personal Injury Commission is committed to finding the best people to deliver excellence in dispute resolution services for the people of New South Wales.
Working at the Commission is a unique opportunity to have a real impact, at a time when people may be experiencing difficult circumstances. We provide interesting work opportunities in an innovative organisation that values diversity, inclusion, and fairness.
The Commission advertises employment opportunities on the I work for NSW website. Appointments as members, mediators, merit reviewers and medical specialists are advertised on the Commission’s web site and in our e-bulletin.
Disclaimer
The Commission cannot warrant and does not represent that the material which appears on our website or any linked sites is complete, current, reliable or free from error.
The Personal Injury Commission also cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense that might be incurred as a result of the use of, or reliance upon, the materials which appear on this or any linked sites on our website.
Privacy, Information Access and Copyright
For information relating to the Commission's policies on privacy, access to information and copyright, see the relevant section on the Resources Page.