The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) is pleased to welcome the following judicial appointments announced today by the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Honourable Michelle Rowland MP.
| Appointment | Registry |
|---|---|
| Dr James Renwick AM CSC SC | William St, Sydney |
| Senior Judicial Registrar Celia Conlan | Melbourne |
| Senior Judicial Registrar Kara Best | Brisbane |
| Senior Judicial Registrar Amy McGowan | Parramatta |
| Senior Judicial Registrar Sharney Jenkinson | Melbourne |
| Senior Judicial Registrar Kathryn Heuer | Adelaide |
All Judges will commence on 17 September 2025.
The Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) ('the Courts'), the Honourable William Alstergren AO, acknowledges the extensive consultation process that the Attorney-General has undertaken and the highly qualified candidates that have been selected.
Five of the six appointments announced today involve the elevation of Senior Judicial Registrars to Judges.
The appointments in the family law jurisdiction recognise the enormous experience and skill of those serving in the role of Senior Judicial Registrar and that it is an appropriate pathway to judicial appointment, as is the role of senior solicitor or barrister.
"Many of our current Judges previously served as Registrars of our Courts, which provides unique experience and insight into being a judicial officer, and is a matter of great pride for the Courts.
"Dr Renwick, who will sit in the Court's general federal law and migration jurisdictions, brings a wealth of experience to the Court, having had a diverse appellate, administrative and public law, commercial, regulatory and inquiry practice prior to his appointment."
"On behalf of the Courts, I am delighted to welcome the appointment of such esteemed and eminently qualified individuals to the Bench.
"I warmly welcome the new Judges who will play a critical part in the Court's future and serving the Australian community," the Chief Justice added.
These appointments bring the total number of Judges in the FCFCOA (Division 2) to 91, and the FCFCOA (Division 1) remains at 35, with a total of 126 Judges across both Courts nationally.
Biographical details:
Dr James Renwick AM CSC SC - William Street Registry, Sydney
Dr Renwick completed a Bachelor of Laws at Sydney University and was admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner in 1985. Dr Renwick signed the Bar Roll in NSW in 1996 and was later appointed as Senior Counsel in and for the State of New South Wales in 2011.
Dr Renwick is Deputy Judge Advocate General - Navy in the Australian Defence Force and a Commodore in the Royal Australian Navy. He is an accredited mediator and former Senior Member at NCAT and was the third Australian Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM). Dr Renwick has extensive experience with Alternative Dispute Resolution, including conducting hearings as INSLM and as a Tribunal Member. Dr Renwick also holds a practising certificate in Papua New Guinea.
Prior to appointment, Dr Renwick has had a diverse appellate, administrative and public law, commercial, regulatory and inquiry practice.
Dr Renwick completed his doctorate in constitutional law at Australian National University, was elected as an Honorary Master of the Bench at Inner Temple, London and is a Fellow at the Australian Academy of Law.
Dr Renwick was inducted as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2023 for 'significant service to the law and to national security'.
Senior Judicial Registrar Celia Conlan - Melbourne Registry
Senior Judicial Registrar Conlan graduated from Monash University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws and was admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1993. From 1995 to 1996, Ms Conlan completed an Associateship with the Honourable Peter Heerey AM (a former Judge of the Federal Court of Australia), before signing the Bar Roll in 1996.
Ms Conlan entered practice as a family law solicitor at Victoria Legal Aid in 1998, where she held roles as Independent Children's Lawyer and Senior Lawyer until 2010. Ms Conlan practised as an International Lawyer in Vietnam at Allens (then, Allen Linklaters) from 2008 to 2009. Ms Conlan became a member of the Victorian Bar in 2010, appearing before the then Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Family Court of Australia, the Children's Court and Magistrates' Court.
In August 2021, Ms Conlan was appointed as a Senior Judicial Registrar in the FCFCOA (Division 1) & FCFCOA (Division 2) in the Melbourne Registry, and currently holds the position of National Coordinating Senior Judicial Registrar. Ms Conlan holds a Masters of Applied Law (Family Law) and is an AIFLAM accredited Mediator and Arbitrator.
Senior Judicial Registrar Kara Best - Brisbane Registry
Senior Judicial Registrar Best graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in 2000 and was admitted in the Supreme Court of Queensland as a Barrister in 2001 and as a Solicitor in 2004.
Ms Best commenced her legal career at the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, before undertaking an Associateship with the Hon Mr Neil McLauchlan KC (a former Judge of the District Court of Queensland) until 2001. From 2002 until 2003, Ms Best served as Legal Associate and Appeals Associate to the Hon Michelle May AM KC.
Ms Best commenced practise as a family law solicitor at Barry Nilsson in 2004, before serving as Senior Legal Associate to the Hon Diana Bryant AO KC, former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, from 2006 to 2007. Ms Best then held the position of Managing Director, Best Wilson Buckley Family Law, a specialist family law firm until her appointment as a Senior Judicial Registrar in the FCFCOA (Division 1) & FCFCOA (Division 2) in 2021.
Ms Best gained Specialist Accreditation in Family Law from the Queensland Law Society in 2007 and served on the Independent Children's Lawyer Panel at Legal Aid Queensland in 2009.
Ms Best completed Advanced Collaborate Law Training in 2012 and is an AIFLAM accredited Mediator and Arbitrator. Prior to her appointment as a Senior Judicial Registrar, Ms Best served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Queensland.
Senior Judicial Registrar Sharney Jenkinson - Melbourne
Senior Judicial Registrar Jenkinson completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Behavioural Science at La Trobe University in 2007 and was admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2007. Ms Jenkinson commenced her legal career as a volunteer clerk with Victoria Legal Aid in 2006. In 2007, Ms Jenkinson commenced practice as a family law solicitor at Macgregor Barristers and Solicitors, specialising in family law.
Ms Jenkinson completed a Master of Laws in 2009 and signed the Bar Roll in Queensland in 2011. Ms Jenkinson joined the Victorian Bar in 2012 and established a practice in all aspects of family law, particularly as Counsel on behalf of the Independent Children's Lawyer.
In 2021, Ms Jenkinson was appointed as a Senior Judicial Registrar of the FCFCOA (Division 1) & FCFCOA (Division 2) in the Sydney Registry, before transferring to the Melbourne Registry in 2023. Ms Jenkinson is an AIFLAM accredited Mediator and Arbitrator.
Senior Judicial Registrar Kathryn Heuer - Adelaide Registry
Senior Judicial Registrar Heuer completed a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at Australian National University and was admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner in the ACT and NSW in 1989.
Ms Heuer commenced practice as a solicitor in Canberra at John Faulks & Co in family law and wills and estates. In 1992, Ms Heuer gained accreditation as an AIFLAM accredited Mediator. From 2005 to 2007, Ms Heuer was the Director of Mediation at Relationships Australia (Canberra and Region). In 2001, Ms Heuer was appointed as a Registrar of the then Family Court of Australia.
In 2005, Ms Heuer returned to private practice in both family law and wills and estates and was a founding member of the National Centre of Collaborative Law. Ms Heuer was made a Director of Family Law at Farrar Gesini Dunn in 2007, and a Director of the Wills and Estates team at Certus Law.
In 2020, Ms Heuer was appointed as a Senior Judicial Registrar of the FCFCOA (Division 1) & FCFCOA (Division 2) in the Adelaide Registry.
Senior Judicial Registrar Amy McGowan - Parramatta
Senior Judicial Registrar McGowan completed a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) and a Bachelor Laws at the University of Newcastle in 2004 and was admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2009.
From 2006 to 2009, Ms McGowan served as an intern at the New South Wales Disability Discrimination Legal Centre, and later as a Project Officer in the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Ms McGowan commenced practice as a family law solicitor in the Family Violence Prevention Service at New South Wales Women's Legal Services and served as Acting Principal Solicitor at Inner City Legal Centre until 2014. From 2014 to 2022, Ms McGowan held the position of Senior Associate and then as Partner at Kyle & McGowan Family Law.
In 2022, Ms McGowan was appointed as a Senior Judicial Registrar to the FCFCOA (Division 1) & FCFCOA (Division 2) in the Newcastle Registry.
Prior to her appointment as Senior Judicial Registrar, Ms McGowan was the Director of Advocacy, Rainbow Families. Ms McGowan holds a Masters of Applied Law (Family Law) and is an accredited Family Law Specialist recognised by the Law Society of New South Wales.
