THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
Special Minister of State
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity
MEDIA RELEASE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC today announced two appointments to the recently renamed Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Mr Nicholas Manousaridis and Ms Suzanne Jones as Judges of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Mr Dreyfus said.
Mr Manousaridis and Ms Jones join the Circuit Court following its name change to reflect the important service the Court provides through its program of regular court circuits.
Both appointees have made a substantial contribution to the law and I look forward to them continuing to do so as judges of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
An advisory panel selected Mr Manousaridis and Ms Jones from a strong field of over 100 candidates, finding them highly suitable.
The advisory panel comprised Chief Judge Pascoe AO CVO, former Family Court judge, the Hon Susan Morgan, and a senior official from the Attorney-General's Department.
I wish them well as they take on their new role as judicial officers of the Commonwealth, Mr Dreyfus said.
Ms Jones will take up her appointment to the Melbourne registry on 3 June 2013 and Mr Manousaridis to the Sydney registry on 1 July 2013.
Short biographies for Mr Manousaridis and Ms Jones are attached.
THURSDAY, 16 MAY 2013
Biographies
Mr Nicholas Manousaridis
Mr Manousaridis holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws, all conferred by the University of Sydney.
In 1983, Mr Manousaridis commenced practice as a solicitor specialising in commercial litigation at Gadens Lawyers. Two years later he moved to Mallesons, and in 1987, became an Associate at Baker & McKenzie.
In 1989, Mr Manousaridis was appointed as Local Partner at Baker & McKenzie in their commercial litigation area. In 1993, he was admitted as a barrister in New South Wales and in 1994 joined Nigel Bowen Chambers. Both as a solicitor and as a barrister, Mr Manousaridis has practised predominantly in commercial litigation, trade practices, and public law.
During his career, Mr Manousaridis has also been an active contributor to the development of the next generation of lawyers, lecturing in evidence and civil procedure at the University of Sydney, and presenting at the 2010 Young Lawyers Conference. He has also contributed a chapter on the common law system of writs in a forthcoming publication titled Historical Foundations of Australian Law.
Ms Suzanne Jones
Ms Jones holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University and a Bachelor of Laws from University of Melbourne.
From 1977 to 1979, Ms Jones was the associate to Deputy President Isaac of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. In 1984, Ms Jones commenced work at the Australian Council of Trade Unions, become a Senior Industrial Officer in 1989 and a National Advocate in 1999.
In 2001, Ms Jones was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria. As a barrister, Ms Jones practised in a range of areas, in particular industrial and employment law, discrimination law, personal injury law and immigration law. Her longstanding commitment to these practice areas is indicated by her appointment as part-time Commissioner to the Victorian Commission for Gaming Regulation from 2005 to 2011. In addition, Ms Jones was Chair on the Victorian Law Reform Commission Advisory Committee on Employment/Work Place Relations Matters from 2002 to 2003. Most recently, she was appointed a part time member of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal from 2010 to 2011.
Ms Jones commenced her current position as Commissioner of Fair Work Australia in October 2011 and Head of the Fair Work Commissions Termination of Employment Panel in March 2012.
