Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the law and the legal profession, particularly in supporting, mentoring and developing the careers of Indigenous lawyers and law students, Chris specialises in discrimination and harassment law, employment law and administrative law. Her practice also extends to intellectual property, commercial litigation, family provision and related equity matters, and she has particular expertise in the private education sector and its interaction with regulators.

Chris has conducted several landmark discrimination cases and has played an instrumental role in the development and passage of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), and in the passage of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). She has also assumed other significant roles, including appointment as legal policy advisor at Federal and State level on various grounds of discrimination and aged policy, and has appeared as Counsel Assisting the Commission in several ICAC Inquiries.

An experienced workplace investigator in corporate and government operations, Chris has extensive practical experience and expert knowledge in the governance of corporations, risk and financial management, workplace practices and organisational development. Such knowledge is bolstered by her graduation from the Australian Institute of Company Director’s Company Director Course.

Chris was the co-author of the fifth edition of Discrimination Law and Practice, a Federation Press publication. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney, as well as a number of significant professional appointments. She has also completed a Mediation Workshop with LEADR and a Professional Certificate in Arbitration through the University of Adelaide.