Elizabeth and Lorraine

Elizabeth is studying a Master's of Law and Development at the University of Melbourne. Her first role in the legal profession, in Papua New Guinea in 2013, was as a graduate development student legal officer with Ok Tedi Mining. She has also worked at MSEL Ltd., a PNG-owned company that is sub-contracted to Exxon Mobil PNG. In 2014, Elizabeth joined the Public Solicitor's Office to work in the Advisory Division.

Elizabeth represents the Office in the Family Sexual Violence Action Committee. She has produced educational legal awareness materials for the Family Law Division, and pushed for the implementation of the PNG Public Service Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy in her workplace. She is passionate about legal education and has travelled to remote PNG provinces to carry out legal literacy education drives for Department of Justice and Attorney-General workers.

As a certified legal practitioner, Elizabeth is a member of the PNG Law Society. She also has held roles as the treasurer of the University of PNG Law Student Society and vice president of the University of PNG Sandaun Students Association.

Elizabeth is interested in ensuring that government services are accessible to the majority of PNG's population, and interest that began at the Public Solicitor's Office, a constitutional office mandated to provide free legal service to the public. Elizabeth would like to strengthen legal referral pathways and support the implementation of Family Law in PNG, particularly the Lukautim Pikinini Act 2015, the Child Welfare Act 2015 and the Family Protection Act 2013. She believes stable healthy families will produce stable healthy citizens, who will work towards positive economic growth and positive social cohesion.

Lorraine is an experienced government lawyer and policy adviser, who has worked extensively in the Pacific region. She currently works as the International Legal Adviser to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Fiji. In this role, she advises on the wide range of legal and governance issues arising for the Pacific Islands Forum, a political community of 18 countries and territories, including Australia. She also regularly represents the Forum Secretariat at regional and international meetings.

Lorraine previously worked in the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department, primarily in the areas of international law, human rights, and national security. She has also worked as a government lawyer in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Lorraine worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, providing legal and policy advice on the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, and with AusAID to develop the Australian Civilian Corps. She commenced her career in the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.