Zoe McKenzie

Zoe McKenzie (born 2 October 1972) is an Australian Liberal politician who has served in the House of Representatives since May 2022, representing the Division of Flinders in Victoria.^[1] McKenzie was an industrial relations lawyer, international trade specialist and board director prior to election to the Parliament of Australia on 21 May 2023.^[2]

Early life

Family background

McKenzie was born in Melbourne Australia, educated at Lauriston Girls School in Armadale and attended the University of Melbourne, where she undertook Law and Arts, focusing on French, German and Spanish language studies in her arts degree.^[3]

McKenzie was raised by her mother, Ann Shanahan, who practised as a cardio-thoracic surgeon and lawyer, through most of her professional life.^[4]

At the age of 15, Zoe undertook an exchange to France, attending school and living with a French family in a small village near Valence.^[5]

Through her secondary schooling, Zoe worked part time doing an afternoon paper round, at Target, and in local cafes.^[6] At University, she worked as a research assistant to Professor Greg Craven and Professor Cheryl Saunders, at the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies and as a part time junior adviser to Attorney General Jan Wade, in the Kennett Government.^[7]

Career

McKenzie undertook articles with Corrs Chambers Westgarth and practised in industrial relations law before joining the private office of Federal Attorney General Daryl Williams AM QC, with responsibility for constitutional law, criminal justice and reform of the marriage celebrant scheme.^[8]

McKenzie then joined Freehill Hollingdale and Page (later Freehills, now Herbert Smith Freehills) in industrial relations and employment law becoming a Senior Associate with the firm in 2003.^[9]

In 2004 she returned to policy work, first becoming an adviser to Education, Science and Training Minister Brendan Nelson, with responsibility for vocational education, and later higher education, then working in senior policy and chief of staff roles in the Communications and Arts portfolio.^[10][11]

Upon its election in late 2010, McKenzie joined the Baillieu Coalition Government with responsibility for education and culture policy issues,^[12] then returning to Federal Government with the election of Tony Abbott in 2013, as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Trade and Investment where she was involved in the conclusion of trade agreements with South Korea, Japan, China, the Trans Pacific Partnership, an updated FTA with Singapore and lead-in work on the Indian, European Union, Indonesia and Hong Kong FTA negotiations.^[13]

McKenzie joined the board of the Australia Council for the Arts in 2016, and the NBN Ltd in 2018, roles from which she resigned in late 2021 to contest pre-selection for the seat of Flinders.^[14] She was also until that time on the board of the Committee for Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne University Humanities Foundation Board, French Australian Chamber of Commerce (FACCI Vic), Trade Policy Committee of the Australian British Chamber of Commerce, and Trade Policy Committee of the Screen Producers Association.^[15]

Political career

McKenzie replaced Greg Hunt as the Liberal candidate for Flinders in 2021 and was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2022 federal election, standing in the Division of Flinders.^[16] McKenzie was the only new Member of Parliament to increase the margin of a Liberal-held seat, from 5.7 to 6.5.^[17]

McKenzie is aligned with the Centrist faction of the Liberal Party.^[18]

Personal life

McKenzie is engaged to Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez, a Harvard-educated barrister who is currently Chief of Staff to Leader of the Victorian Opposition, John Pesutto MP.^[19] McKenzie has three teenage step-children, Estela, Rafael and Gabriel.^[20]

References