Our board

Like most community organisations, VoCNT has a small governance team consisting of volunteer board members who represent a range of sectors and bring valuable skills, knowledge and experience to the organisation. The board takes on the legal responsibility for overseeing the organisation’s operations and ensuring a ﬁrm strategy is in place for the future.

Melinda Fleming
Co-Chair

Chanel Baily
Deputy Chairperson

Dr Jane Ray
Treasurer

Gerard McGeough
Chief Executive Officer

Patron

Martin Dole
Commissioner Of Police

Ana Aitcheson
Co-Chair (Chair Designate)

Jennifer Reilly
Member

Nathalia Perez-Alfonso
Member

Rick Davies
Member

Brendan Muldoon
NT Police representative

Louise Ogden
Department of Corrections representative

Planned Succession

VoCNT is currently implementing a planned succession process. Melinda Fleming’s term as Co-Chair concludes at the AGM on 15 October 2026. Upon election, Ana will assume the ongoing responsibilities of Chair ensuring continuity of leadership to the organisation.

Our Chair

Melinda Fleming, Co-Chair

Melinda (Mel) Fleming is the former CEO of Victims of Crime NT (2019 – 2024) and now Chair of the board. She has enjoyed a career in the community sector spanning 28 years, working in a variety of settings across Qld and the Northern Territory. For the last 18 years, Mel has held executive leadership positions within multi disciplined community services organisations, disability services, the charity sector and specialist services such as VoCNT. She has held board roles with several community organisations.

Mel is committed to effective NGO organisational governance and is passionate about people, culture and strategy . She instigated VoCNT’s journey as an accredited Sanctuary provider in 2021. Her belief in the creation of a trauma informed community at VoCNT has helped to position the organisation as the lead victim support agency in the NT.

Mel holds a position on the Sanctuary Faculty team with the Mackillop Institute, supporting other organisations as they implement the Sanctuary Model. She also has a role as victim representative on the Parole Board of the NT, and volunteers at the community level with various organisations.

Our chair

Ana Bennett-Aitcheson, Co-Chair (Chair Designate)

For more than 21 years, Ana’s had the privilege of working across the not-for-profit and community sectors, driven by a genuine passion for people, strong governance, and creating positive change for our communities.

Her career began as a frontline social worker in New Zealand, where she witnessed the strength and resilience of people navigating some of life’s most difficult experiences. Those early experiences continue to shape her leadership today and remind her that effective governance is ultimately about people ensuring organisations are ethical, accountable, sustainable, and focused on the communities they exist to serve.

As Co-Chair of Victims of Crime NT, Ana feels honoured to contribute to an organisation that stands alongside victims and advocates for a more compassionate, trauma informed and responsive justice system. She believes good governance is more than oversight; it is about setting a clear vision, fostering strong partnerships, and ensuring every decision reflects our commitment to those who need us most.

Throughout her career, she has been privileged to lead organisations through periods of growth, change, and transformation. She is passionate about building strong teams, empowering leaders, and creating organisations that are courageous, transparent and community led. She firmly believes that when governance is purposeful and values-driven, it creates the foundation for meaningful and lasting impact.

Our CEO

Gerard McGeough

Gerard McGeough is an experienced executive leader with more than 25 years of progressive experience across the human services, justice, and community sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of Victims of Crime NT, he leads the Northern Territory’s only dedicated victim support and advocacy organisation, delivering trauma-informed services that place victims at the centre of the justice system.

Gerard brings over a decade of specialised experience in victim advocacy, with deep expertise in navigating the criminal justice system, shaping policy, and delivering trauma-informed care. His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening victim support services across the NT, including remote communities and with First Nations people.

Under his leadership, Victims of Crime NT has achieved significant milestones, including becoming the first organisation in the Northern Territory to implement the Sanctuary Model and achieve certification as a trauma-informed organisation. He has also driven the development of innovative programs that address the intersection of domestic, family, and sexual violence with the justice system.

Gerard has a strong track record in organisational transformation, stakeholder engagement, and inter-agency collaboration. Working at the intersection of government agencies and community partners, he improves outcomes for victims and advocates for systemic reform. His experience includes senior leadership in witness assistance service at the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, alongside extensive work in youth justice and child protection across multiple jurisdictions.

He is widely recognised for his contributions to the sector, including leading initiatives that have received honours such as the NT Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business – Not for Profit Award and the NT Community Mental Health Award.

Gerard has bachelor’s in social science and psychology and has undertaken extensive professional development in trauma-informed practice, crisis response, and therapeutic service delivery. His work continues to focus on advancing victim-centred approaches, strengthening service systems, and ensuring the rights, interests and needs of victims are recognised, respected and heard.