Deputy Ombudsman Victoria Marles left the TIO in October to take up the position as Victoria’s first Legal Services Commissioner and chief executive officer of the Legal Services Board.

Vic began as Deputy Ombudsman in May 2002. Immediately before that she was Deputy Director of the Communications Law Centre in Victoria. It was in that role that Vic first became involved with the TIO, when, in 1999, she was appointed to the TIO Council as one of four consumer representatives.

During her three years as the Deputy Ombudsman, Vic played a crucial role in developing staff procedures and resources to enable the TIO to deal with the ever-increasing volume and complexity of complaints it receives.

She also handled high-level disputes with independence, fairness and compassion and managed the systemic complaint process. Vic was responsible for the TIO receiving HREOC approval for its Disability Action Plan and for extending the reach of the TIO into remote and indigenous Australian communities. The TIO wishes her all the best in her new role.