Chairperson

His Honour David Fanning was appointed by Governor in Council as Chairperson of the Adult Parole Board (the Board) from 31 October 2022.

His Honour David Fanning was appointed as a Magistrate in 2006 and, between 2007 and 2021, sat at the Neighbourhood Justice Centre where he presided over its multijurisdictional court, hearing criminal and civil matters across the Magistrates’ and Children’s Court, as well as the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) and Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). More recently, His Honour sat at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. He retired from the bench in 2022.

He was also a divisional chairperson of the Board and sat regularly in all its Divisions from 2013 to 2020.

Prior to his judicial appointment:

  • he was Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children from 2004 to 2006

  • he was a member of the Victorian Bar for 16 years, having signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 1989, where he worked in family law, child welfare law, criminal law and administrative law

  • he began his legal career as a solicitor.

Prior to entering the law, he had an eight-year career as a social worker in family support, mental health and child protection, working directly with children and vulnerable individuals.

His Honour also served as a member of the Faculty Board of the Law School, Monash University for almost 10 years.