Published on Friday 27, November 2020

2019-20 AGM

Through multiple computer screens, Inner Melbourne Community Legal held its first virtual AGM meeting on Wednesday 25 November, under the theme of ‘Working with Others to Adapt to Change’.

In his last AGM as Chair - following a seven year tenure on the board - Peter Fridell commenced proceedings. He welcomed Damian Stock as CEO to his first AGM, and recognised the five month Acting Co-CEO roles assumed by Nadia Morales and Jessica de Vries upon the departure in October 2019 of former CEO, Dan Stubbs.  

“2019-20 was a year of significant transition for IMCL, compounded by the impact of COVID-19,” he said. 

Congratulating the team on its ability to adapt, Peter highlighted the seamless transition to remote working at the onset of the pandemic, ensuring that we continued to serve our local community.

“It showed the strength of our systems… and the IMCL team made it look easy,” he said.

Another highlight of Peter’s speech was the organisation’s response to the public housing lockdown at the start of July, which demonstrated the organisation’s agility and commitment to support those most in need “in a difficult, fast moving and unprecedented time.”

In his inaugural speech as CEO, Damian Stock also spoke about IMCL’s achievements over the last year. He emphasised the strength of IMCL’s partnerships with community organisations, a cornerstone of our way of working, and the unwavering dedication of staff to achieve access to justice for our clients.

Peter Fridell announced his resignation from the board, noting that he is proud of what IMCL has achieved during his time as Chair. Many attendees, including John Mangan (Treasurer) and former CEO Dan Stubbs spoke up in praise of Peter’s contributions, noting his support, kindness and genuine care for staff, clients and the committee.

Caroline Evans was elected as the new Chair of IMCL, continuing her membership on the board for over four years. 

IMCL thanks Peter for his service and welcomes Caroline to the role of Chair.

Launched at the AGM, you can read IMCL’s Annual Report detailing how we maintained service delivery and responded to the unpredictable events of COVID-19 here.