Jennifer Kanis

Jennifer Kanis was elected to the seat of Melbourne in a by-election in July 2012. Before entering Parliament, Jennifer served as a councillor at the City of Melbourne from 2008 to 2012. She has carried her interest in aged care, youth services and homelessness from the council to the parliament.

Jennifer currently holds the positions of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health. She is also Deputy Chair of the Victorian Parliament’s Accountability and Oversight and the IBAC (Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission) Parliamentary Committees.

Jennifer previously worked as a senior associate at Holding Redlich Lawyers and as a secondary school teacher. She was convenor of Victorian Women Lawyers in 2009.

In her inaugural speech, Jennifer told Parliament that she believes that a good government helps people in need, supports a vibrant economy, creates opportunity and builds people up to reach their full potential.