Who we are
Meet the people who prosecute serious crime on behalf of the Victorian community
Director of Public Prosecutions
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is responsible for beginning, preparing, and conducting serious criminal matters in Victoria, on behalf of the Victorian community.
The DPP is supported by Crown Prosecutors’ Chambers – led by the Chief Crown Prosecutor – and the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) – led by the Solicitor for Public Prosecutions.
The DPP is an independent statutory officer, appointed by the Governor in Council. The DPP is responsible to the Attorney-General for their performance and use of their power.
In performing their role, the DPP must consider:
- justice and fairness
- the need to conduct prosecutions in an effective, economic, and efficient manner
- the need to ensure that the prosecution system appropriately considers the concerns of victims of crime.
The Policy of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Victoria is an important part of accountability and transparency.
The DPP also has a leadership role in the criminal justice system and contributes to law reform in Victoria. You can read the DPP’s Policy Paper on Proposed Reforms to Reduce Further Trauma to Victims and Witnesses here.
Crown Prosecutors' Chambers
The Crown Prosecutors’ Chambers is made up of the Chief Crown Prosecutor (CCP) and Crown Prosecutors, who are experienced criminal barristers.
The CCP is an independent statutory officer appointed by the Governor in Council.
The CCP:
- manages Crown Prosecutors following the direction of the DPP
- ensures that Crown Prosecutors function effectively, efficiently and economically
- appears in complex cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the High Court, on behalf of the DPP.
Crown Prosecutors are independent statutory appointees who work exclusively for the DPP.
Crown Prosecutors:
- appear in court on behalf of the DPP in some of the most serious cases
- have authority to make certain decisions on behalf of the DPP
- have authority to sign indictments to bring accused people to trial.
List of Crown Prosecutors:
Chief Crown Prosecutor
Diana Piekusis KC
Senior Crown Prosecutors
Nanette Rogers SC
Mark Gibson KC
Raymond Gibson KC
Patrick Bourke KC
Elizabeth Ruddle KC
Kristie ChurchillÂ
David GlynnÂ
Crown Prosecutors
Jim Shaw
Daniel Porceddu
Nadia KaddechaÂ
Penelope Thorp
Erin Ramsay
Catherine Parkes
Jeremy McWilliams
Kathryn Hamill
Angela Moran
Ariadne French
Grant Hayward
John Dickie
Jane Warren
Sarah Lenthall
Raphael de Vietri
Liam McAuliffe
Jordan Johnston
To speak to a Crown Prosecutor, please contact Chambers on 9603 7666.
Office of Public Prosecutions
The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) is Victoria’s largest criminal legal practice.
The OPP is made up of solicitors, social workers, legal support staff, and corporate and executive services staff who work in different specialist areas. You can find our organisational chart here.
The OPP prepares and conducts indictable (serious) criminal matters on behalf of the DPP. The OPP also provides advice to external agencies, litigates proceeds of crime and contributes to law reform, all on behalf of the DPP.
OPP solicitors and social workers from the Victims and Witness Assistance Service (VWAS) support victims and witnesses during the court process.
The Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (SPP) manages the staff and budget of the OPP. The SPP is an executive appointment under the Public Administration Act 2004. The SPP is responsible for briefing Crown Prosecutors, private barristers, and OPP solicitor advocates to appear in court on behalf of the DPP. Â
In performing these functions, the SPP must appropriately consider the concerns of victims of crime.
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Our Vision
We are a leader in the criminal justice system.
We are a dynamic organisation continually adapting to deliver effective outcomes for our community by valuing and supporting our people, applying our unique legal expertise and leveraging our digital capability.
Our Mission
We deliver high quality prosecutions independently, fairly and efficiently.
Our Values
Our values are our core beliefs about how we should behave and how we do things. Our culture is shaped by these values through their influence on our attitudes and actions.
- Treat everyone with respect.
- Work collaboratively.
- Embrace innovation.
- Demonstrate professional excellence.
- Act with integrity.
Our Strategic Priorities for 2022-2025
You can find the OPP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 here.
Brendan Kissane KC
Director of Public Prosecutions
Brendan Kissane KC is the Director of Public Prosecutions for Victoria. Brendan was appointed in September 2024.
Brendan holds a Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne. Brendan signed the Bar Roll and commenced work as a Barrister in 1985. He has principally worked in Criminal law apart from time spent as a member of the Refugee Review Tribunal between 1995 and 2002.
Brendan was appointed as a Crown Prosecutor in 2007 and became Senior Counsel in 2014. He was appointed as a Senior Crown Prosecutor in 2015 and appointed the Chief Crown Prosecutor in March 2018.
Diana Piekusis KC
Chief Crown Prosecutor
Diana Piekusis KC is the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Victoria. Diana was appointed in September 2024. She is the first woman to hold the role in Victoria.
Diana holds a Bachelor of Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Laws from Latrobe University, and her wider service activities include membership of the Therapeutic Treatment Board. Before signing the bar roll, Ms Piekusis was a duty solicitor and associate public defender for Victoria Legal Aid in the Sunshine, Ringwood, and Melbourne offices, and she served articles with the Hon. Rob Stary of Stary George & Associates.
Diana was appointed as a Crown Prosecutor in 2009. She was appointed a Senior Counsel and a Senior Crown Prosecutor in November 2018.
Abbey Hogan
Solicitor for Public Prosecutions
Abbey Hogan is the Solicitor for Public Prosecutions in Victoria. Abbey was appointed in February 2020.
Abbey holds a Bachelor of Laws from La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Arts from RMIT University.
Abbey has worked as a lawyer in various roles across the Office of Public Prosecutions since 2003, including in general prosecutions, drugs, appeals, and policy and specialised legal. As the manager of policy and specialised legal, Abbey oversaw the development of the OPP’s knowledge management system OPPedia.
Further information
In this video, we meet the people who prosecute serious crime in Victoria.