media release (26-145MR)

Former WA director Joanne Pellew convicted of Corporations Act offences following ASIC investigation

Published

Joanne Jennifer Pellew of Como, Western Australia, has been convicted of three offences of dishonestly using her position as a director and one offence of managing a corporation when disqualified, following an ASIC investigation.

On 2 July 2026, a jury of the District Court of Western Australia found Ms Pellew guilty of three counts of dishonestly using her position as a director contrary to s184(2)(a) and one count of managing corporations while disqualified contrary to s206A(1)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Each offence carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.

The jury found Ms Pellew not guilty of three counts of managing corporations while disqualified contrary to s206A(1)(a) of the Corporations Act.

The jury found that:

  • in May 2018 Ms Pellew had dishonestly and unlawfully made three separate transfers totalling around $739,655 from Ochre Training Pty Ltd to Ochre Workforce Solutions Pty Ltd, and
  • between 20 and 27 June 2019 Ms Pellew continued to participate in making decisions that affected Ochre People Pty Ltd by entering a labour hire agreement with the Western Australian Country Health Service while disqualified from managing corporations.

The matter is next listed on 4 September 2026 for sentencing.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) prosecuted the matter following an ASIC referral.

Background

Ms Pellew has been disqualified from managing corporations since 20 February 2019 when she was made a bankrupt. Ms Pellew was also disqualified from managing corporations by ASIC for five years commencing 28 October 2019 (19-311MR).

In May 2021 Ms Pellew was charged with breaching her directors’ duties, making a false or misleading statement to ASIC and managing a corporation while disqualified (21-158MR).

At the time of the offending for which Ms Pellew has been convicted:

  • Section 184 of the Corporations Act carried a maximum penalty of imprisonment of 5 years or and/or a fine of 2000 penalty units.
  • Section 206A of the Corporations Act carried a maximum penalty of imprisonment of 5 years and/or a fine of up to 600 penalty units.