Patricia Blake (known as Trish) became Commissioner for Consumer Protection and Executive Director for Consumer Protection in January 2023.

Prior to becoming Commissioner Trish has been the Director of Retail and Services within Consumer Protection and worked in the Legislation and Policy Directorate of Consumer Protection for more than 13 years. Trish is a great advocate for residential tenancies, scam prevention, human rights and product safety. Trish is a regular guest on ABC Perth’s Drive program, 6PR’s Perth Live program and often features in Consumer Protection television interviews.

Trish had primary responsibility for the review of and amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and the creation of the Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020, which implemented the moratorium on rent increases and on some evictions. The legislation created the Residential Tenancies Mandatory Conciliation Service to assist landlords and tenants resolve disputes during the emergency period of which Trish assisted in establishing and managing for the first six months of its operation. Prior to COVID, Trish’s other most notable achievement was the implementation of the Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment (Family Violence) Act 2019, which amended the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 to provide people who have been subjected to family violence with more options and better outcomes in relation to their tenancy agreement.

Trish has a law degree and is admitted to practice in Western Australia. She also has a degree with Honours in Social Work and a Post Graduate qualification in Public Policy and taught in the Murdoch University’s International Human Rights program for a number of years. Prior to working for the Department, Trish spent many years working in Community Legal Centres in WA.

Owen Kelly is the Director, Conciliation and Services for Consumer Protection.  Owen’s primary responsibilities include directing conciliation services between consumers and businesses and upholding compliance and regulation standards through consumer and related laws. 

In his 12 months with Consumer Protection, Owen has established a trader intervention program and embedded customer advocacy in the conciliation work to achieve positive consumer outcomes. He also represents the state in dealing with emerging consumer law issues with regulators across the country. Owen is also responsible for Consumer Protection’s regional team who manage complaints and conciliation, and he regularly represents Consumer Protection in the media doing TV and radio interviews.

Prior to working for the Department, Owen held several roles with the Department of Education and Department of Corrective Services. He was responsible for evidence-based regulation, policy development and professional standards. Owen is an outcomes-focussed regulatory and policy leader that now welcomes the challenges of conciliation services at Consumer Protection.

Owen has a PhD in psychology from the University of Western Australia, which followed his Bachelor of Science with first class honours.

Roberta is the Principal Solicitor at CCLS. She studied at the University of Sydney, the National University of Ireland, Galway and the University of Western Australia.  She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law Degree.  She has completed professional practice courses and practice management courses at the Law of Society of Ireland and College of Law, Western Australia.  She also completed AICD Governance for Not-for-Profit Directors.

Roberta worked in private practice in Ireland, specialising in property and banking before relocating to Perth. Following admission to practice in WA, she worked for a commercial law firm before jumping at the opportunity to join CCLS and “sit on the other side of the table” to voice the risks of unaffordable lending from the consumer perspective. Since joining the team at CCLS she has assisted many vulnerable consumers successfully pursue responsible lending claims against big banks and payday lenders.

Roberta takes a lead role in CCLS’ law reform submissions and stakeholder engagements in the belief that it is the role of consumer advocates to speak up for those who do not have the knowledge, resources, or capacity to advocate for themselves.

She is a regular presenter at the FCAWA annual conference and joined the FCAWA Board in 2021. She is also sits on a number of national and state consumer advisory committees including the Legal Practice Section of the Law Council of Australia Consumer Law Committee, DMIRS Consumer Advisory Committee and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority Consumer Advisory Panel.