Speaker details

Biography

BIC Secretary-Treasurer BIC Officer (2018- current) IBA Diversity and Inclusion Council Co-chair and member (2018-current) BIC Policy Committee (2017 - current) BIC ITSILS Committee BIC Regulation Committee BIC Co-chair Climate Change Working group IBA Presidential Taskforce on Independence of the Legal Profession IBA Governance Review committee IBA Future of Legal Services Commission IBA Nominations Committee Forum of Barristers and Advocates Asia-Pacific Regional Forum IBA Annual Conference Host Committee Sydney (2017) Lead with LPRU Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project Commonwealth Lawyers Association Council President Law Council of Australia President Australian Bar Association, President Australian Women Lawyers President Victorian Bar LawAsia Council Presidents of Law Asia Association Fiona is an eminent Kings Counsel experienced in conducting trials, appeals, Royal Commissions and Inquiries and appearing in complex commercial, class actions and public law matters. She is recognised for her clear advice and expert advocacy in large-scale matters of national significance. She has contributed through extensive public service, chairing numerous government and professional inquiries, investigations and boards bringing independence, fairness and a deep understanding of public administration, corporate governance, regulatory systems, and executive accountability. Her career has been defined by service to justice, integrity in public life, and the advancement of fairness and inclusion leading at the highest levels of the legal profession and across civic institutions, earning deep respect for her compassion and principled leadership. She has taught advocacy across Asia and the Pacific contributing to capacity building and strengthening the rule of law. Fiona is actively engaged in supporting government and institutional transparency and integrity, as former Chair of the Accountability Round Table, Transparency International Australia and Australia's Open Government Partnership Forum. She has been a champion for diversity and inclusion and has received numerous awards, including for her contribution to the advancement of women and human rights issues, in particular, human trafficking. Fiona was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours for ‘distinguished service to the law, and to the legal profession, at the national and international level, and to women lawyers’ . She was the Victorian Bar Pro Bono Trophy for outstanding individual pro bono contribution in 2025.