The Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Honourable Mark Dreyfus KC MP announced on 7 March 2025 a number of appointments to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Judge Joanne Stewart and Judge Anna Parker, both Judges of the FCFCOA (Division 2), have been appointed as Judges of the FCFCOA (Division 1) in the Adelaide registry. Their Honours' appointments will commence on 2 June 2025.
Mr Peter Fary SC (Melbourne), Commissioner Leigh Johns OAM (Melbourne), Mr Mark Cleary (Parramatta) and Ms Jane Marquard (Sydney) have been appointed to the FCFCOA (Division 2), and will commence on 1 April 2025.
The Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Honourable William Alstergren AO, said that each of the appointments was warmly welcomed:
"Judge Stewart is an exemplary judicial officer with rich experience specialising in family law over many decades. This appointment to the FCFCOA (Division 1) is a credit to Her Honour's depth of knowledge and diligence as a judge of this court.
I am also delighted at the appointment of Judge Parker to the FCFCOA (Division 1). Judge Parker has worked tirelessly as a Judge in Adelaide and her skill, temperament and dedication as a Judge in the complex jurisdiction of family law are to the highest standard. The Australian public are fortunate to be served by her Honour.
Mr Fary SC, Commissioner Johns, Mr Cleary and Ms Marquard join the Court's general federal law jurisdictions as Judges appointed to continue to assist the FCFCOA (Division 2) to address the migration caseload. The breadth and variety of their legal skill and acumen will be well suited to the broad federal jurisdiction exercised by this court.
On behalf of the Courts, I am delighted to welcome each of these new appointments to the bench. Their Honours will play a critical part in the Courts' commitment to providing access to justice to the people of Australia", the Chief Justice said.
Biographical details:
Her Honour Judge Joanne Stewart - Adelaide Registry
Judge Stewart graduated from Monash University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws. Her Honour was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1989 and signed the Bar Roll in Victoria in 1992.
Judge Stewart commenced her Honour's legal career as an Articled Clerk at Mulcahy Mendelson & Round in 1989 before becoming a solicitor at the same firm in 1990 until 1992. Her Honour commenced practise at the Victorian Bar in 1992. As a barrister, Ms Stewart specialised in family law, including children's matters, property matters, child support and Hague Convention matters. Her Honour was appointed as a judge of the then Federal Circuit Court of Australia in 2013.
Her Honour Judge Anna Parker - Adelaide Registry
Judge Parker graduated from Monash University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours. She then graduated with a Doctorate in family law from Monash University in 2016 and a Master of Laws from The University of Melbourne in 2021. Her Honour was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2006 and signed the Bar Roll in Victoria in 2016.
Judge Parker commenced her Honour's legal career at Harwood Andrews Lawyers from 2005 until 2006. Her Honour became a senior associate in family law at Westminster Lawyers in 2007 before becoming a partner at Nicholes Family Lawyers. Her Honour commenced practice in family law at the Victorian Bar in 2016 before being appointed as a Senior Judicial Registrar. Her Honour was then appointed as a judge of the FCFCOA (Division 2) in 2021.
Peter Fary SC - Melbourne Registry
Mr Fary graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws in 1992. He was admitted as a Legal Practitioner in 1994 before signing the Victorian Bar Roll in 2001. Mr Fary began his career in 1994 as a Solicitor at Gadens Lawyers. He then served as a Deputy Registrar at the then Federal Magistrates Court in 2000. Mr Fary has been practicing as a Barrister at the Victorian Bar since 2001 in commercial and insolvency litigation as well as alternative dispute resolution. Mr Fary is a Victorian Bar Advanced Mediator. Mr Fary took Silk in 2020.
Commissioner Leigh Johns OAM - Melbourne Registry
Mr Johns graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Economics in 1991, and a Bachelor of Laws in 1993. He then completed a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne in 2001. He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1994.
Mr Johns commenced his legal career in 1993 as an Articled Clerk, then Solicitor at Norton Rose Fulbright, and served in a number of positions until 2013. These include Solicitor, then Senior Associate at Holding Redlich, Senior Associate at Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Partner at Australian Business Lawyers, Chief Counsel and the Chief Executive Officer at the Fair Work Ombudsman, and Deputy Commissioner and then Commissioner of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner. Since 2013, Mr Johns has served as the Fair Work Commissioner.
Mr Mark Cleary - Parramatta Registry
Mr Cleary graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws in 1995, and then in 2000 he graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Master of Laws. Mr Cleary was admitted as a Solicitor in the New South Wales Supreme Court in 1996 and subsequently signed the Bar Roll in New South Wales in 2001.
Mr Cleary began his legal career in 1996 as a Graduate Solicitor, before serving as a Senior Associate, at Corrs Chambers Westgarth in 1998. He has been practicing as a Barrister at the New South Wales Bar since 2001 in all areas relating to commercial, corporations, property, general equity, public and administrative law.
Ms Jane Marquard - Sydney William St Registry
Ms Marquard graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney in 1988. She was admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1989.
Ms Marquard started her career as a Solicitor at Blake Dawson Waldron in 1990. She held a number of positions between 1992 and 2018 including Manager and Counsel at Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, Member of the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal, and Senior Associate at Wendy Brooks. Ms Marquard has been a part-time member of the Administrative Review Tribunal since 2016 where she has served as an Associate Practice Leader since 2023 and an Acting Practice Leader since 2024.
