Jennifer Kanis (born 16 April 1970) is an Australian politician. She was the Labor Party member for

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

in the

Victorian Legislative Assembly The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia; the upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The presiding ...

between 2012 and 2014. Kanis was born in Melbourne to migrant parents—a Greek father and Italian mother. She studied an Arts degree at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

, and also gained postgraduate qualifications in education.Jennifer Kanis – Workplace Relations
, Holding Redlich. She worked as an English and literature teacher, and then enrolled to study industrial law at

La Trobe University La Trobe University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its main campus is located in the suburb of Bundoora. The university was established in 1964, becoming the third university in the state of Victoria an ...

. After graduation, she took a job with Holding Redlich—the law firm founded by former Victorian Labor leader

Clyde Holding Allan Clyde Holding (27 April 193131 July 2011) was an Australian politician who served as Leader of the Opposition in Victoria for ten years, and went on to become a federal minister in the Hawke Government. Early life and education Holdin ...

—and became a senior associate of the firm. In 2008, she was elected to

Melbourne City Council The City of Melbourne is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. In 2018, the city has an area of and had a population of 169,961. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. The ci ...

.Alumni profile: Jennifer Kanis
La Trobe University. In 2012, Kanis was preselected as the Labor candidate for the Melbourne by-election triggered by the resignation of

Bronwyn Pike Bronwyn Jane Pike (born 25 January 1956) is a former Australian politician. She was Minister for Education in Victoria in the Brumby Government, and was the Member of Parliament for Melbourne from 1999 to 2012. Early life Prior to enterin ...

. Kanis retained the seat for Labor on a 51.5 per cent (–4.7) two-candidate vote against Greens candidate and fellow Melbourne City councillor Cathy Oke. At the 2014 election Greens candidate

Ellen Sandell Ellen Sandell (born 26 November 1984) is an Australian politician and environmentalist. She has represented the electorate of Melbourne in the Parliament of Victoria since 2014 as a member of the Australian Greens. She is currently the Deputy L ...

defeated Kanis with a 52.4 per cent two-candidate vote.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kanis, Jennifer 1970 births Living people Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Victoria Victoria (Australia) local councillors Melbourne Law School alumni La Trobe University alumni Politicians from Melbourne Australian schoolteachers Lawyers from Melbourne Australian people of Greek descent Australian politicians of Italian descent 21st-century Australian politicians Women members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Women local councillors in Australia Labor Left politicians 21st-century Australian women politicians