Patrons and Board

Patrons

Patron in Chief

The Honourable Linda Dessau AC

Patron

The Chief Commissioner of Police, Shane Patton APM

Board Members

Chair – Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway APM

Lauren has been a member of the Police Legacy Board since 2010 and has been in the chair role since 2016. Lauren is the first female chair of VPL and has worked to raise our gender balance on the board to 50% of elected positions. Lauren has been with Victoria Police for 26 years and is the Commander at the People Development Command. Lauren’s focus in her Police Legacy role has been to ensure our organisation becomes more inclusive, embraces values-based decision making and creates a culture of compassion. This approach has seen some fundamental changes in the way the organisation delivers its services and as a result our legatee community has grown to over 1500 men, women and children. Our support has become more personalised, sustainable and centered around the concepts of engaging, connecting and supporting legatees to feel permanently part of the policing family.

Vice Chair - Detective Senior Sergeant Kate O’Neill

In 2017 Kate was promoted to Senior Sergeant at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Engagement Team where she worked to drive culture change within the organisation that was in line with the findings of the VEOHRC’s Independent review Kate has been working with Police Legacy as a volunteer for 10 years. This is Kate’s fourth year as a Board Member and has taken on the Vice Chair role in July 2020

Board Member - Senior Sergeant Darren Kenos

Appointed to the Victoria Police Legacy Board in 2015, he served for a number of years as the organizations ‘Treasurer’ until the role was dissolved following a re-write of the VPL Constitution which saw the Board become more strategic in its governance approach

Board Member - Detective Senior Sergeant Diane Wilson

Dianne was appointed to the Victoria Police Legacy Board in 2015 and is currently working at the Victoria Police Academy

Board Member - Superintendent John Felton APM - Chief Commissioner's Representative

John has many years of involvement with VPL, being a committee member of the annual ‘Wall to Wall Remembrance Ride’ which raises funds for Victoria Police Legacy

Board Member - Inspector James Dalton

Appointed to the Victoria Police Legacy Board in 2017, he has also served one term as Vice Chair

Board Member - Detective Senior Sergeant John Laird - President: The Police Association

John was elected to Board of The Police Association in 2005. Served as Junior Vice President and Senior Vice president over 8 years

Board Member - Superintendent Mark Galliott

Mark was the Chief Commissioner’s delegate on the Victoria Police Legacy Board before he moved the role of an independent board member. Mark has been on the board since 2013

Board Member - Assistant Commissioner Michael Grainger APM

Michael joined Victoria Police in 1984 and is currently serving as Assistant Commissioner State Emergencies & Support command. Michael was welcomed onto the Board in 2021

Board Member - Anthony DeFazio - Bank Vic

Anthony is the Chief Executive Officer of BankVic, one of Australia’s largest mutual banks. . Appointed to the Victoria Police Legacy Board in April 2019, Anthony is one of two Non-Member Directors.

Board Member - Rev Jim Jung, Senior Police Chaplain, Victoria Police

Jim is one of three full time Senior Police Chaplains with Victoria Police. Appointed to the Victoria Police Legacy Board in July 2019. Jim is one of two Non-Member Directors.