Six new judges have been appointed to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

The new judges have been appointed to various Registries across the nation including Sydney, Parramatta, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, and come from a spectrum of professional backgrounds.

Two appointments have been made to the Sydney and Parramatta Registries. Amy McGowan was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW in 2009. She has been a Senior Judicial Registrar in the FCFCOA since 2022, and she has been appointed to the Parramatta Registry.

Dr James Renwick AM CSC SC is an eminent member of the Bar. In 2023, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the law and to national security. Renwick was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW in 1985. He was called to the bar in 1996 before being appointed as Senior Counsel in 2011. Renwick has been appointed to the Sydney Registry.

Two judges have also been appointed to the Melbourne Registry. Celia Conlan was admitted as a solicitor and barrister in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1993 and has been a Senior Judicial Registrar in the FCFCOA since 2021. Her fellow appointee, Sharney Jenkinson was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2007. Jenkinson signed the bar roll in Queensland in 2011 and the Victorian bar roll in 2013. She has been a Senior Judicial Registrar in the Court since 2021.

Appointments have also been made to the Brisbane and Adelaide Registries.

Kara Best was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2001 and as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2004. Best, who has been a Senior Judicial Registrar in the FCFCOA since 2021, has been appointed to the Brisbane Registry.

Kathryn Heuer was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW in 1989 and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of the ACT in the same year. Heuer has been a Senior Judicial Registrar since 2020, and she has been appointed to the Adelaide Registry.

In announcing the multiple new appointments, the Commonwealth Attorney General, Michelle Rowland, congratulated the new judges on their appointments and thanked them for their commitment to serve the Australian community.

“These appointments will facilitate access to justice for families and add to the capacity of the FCFCOA to deal with migration matters,” said Rowland.

All six judges will commence on 17 September 2025.