CHRISTINE MELIS
BARRISTER ◆ ADVOCATE
Christine is currently Counsel Assisting the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes (NSW), a world first inquiry investigating unsolved deaths suspected of being motivated by hate between 1970-2010. In this role, she is working alongside world class investigators and lawyers, conducting hearings and taking her advocacy skills to the next level.
EXCELLENCE IN ◆ STRATEGY ◆ OUTCOMES ◆ ADVOCACY
Across a career spanning 14 years at the Australian Bar, Christine has advised and appeared in a variety of high profile and groundbreaking matters including, the Lindt Cafe siege inquest that explored the first terrorism attack on Australian soil. She has subsequently accumulated considerable experience in the terrorism space. She maintains a strong interest in issues affecting national security including radicalisation, counter-terrorism and the assessment of risk of violent extremism.
Other notable matters that Chris has advised and appeared in include the Takata Airbag inquest and the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission. Chris was part of the legal team that made the first ever applications for Serious Crime Prevention Orders against two Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs in New South Wales. She has also appeared on a number of occasions before the Supreme Court of Nauru in appeals against decisions of the Refugee Status Review Tribunal.
Chris has served on a number of boards and committees including, Victorian Women Lawyers (President), Australian Women Lawyers (Vice President), the Inquests and Inquiries committee (NSW Bar), Victorian Bar Council and Women Barristers Forum (NSW).
Chris is passionate about advocacy and equality in the law. She is a trained Advocacy Instructor with the Australian Advocacy Institute and a previous sessional Lecturer in Trial Practice & Advocacy in the Faculty of Law at Monash University. She has taught criminal and civil advocacy to law students in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. She spearheaded a mentoring program for the female participants in PNG and named it, "Empowering Women in the Law in PNG".
