The Honourable Diana Bryant AO QC is a former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and before her appointment was the inaugural Chief Federal Magistrate of Australia, the head of the Federal Magistrates’ Court.
She has practiced in family law since 1977 and retired as Chief Justice on 12 October 2017 reaching the constitutional retirement age of 70. Since, she has continued her deep interest in family law, particularly regarding matters affecting children and families.
Following her retirement she was Judge in Residence at Melbourne law School in 2018 and 2019. She chaired an international Working Group at the Hague Conference on Private International Law developing a Guide to Good Practice on the ‘grave risk of harm’ exception to the Child Abduction Convention and was a member of the International Advisory Committee for the Singapore Family Justice Courts for 2018-2020;
She currently holds the following positions:
- Chair of the Board of the World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights Inc
- President of the Graduate Union of the University of Melbourne Inc
- Chair of the National Centre Against Bullying
- A member of the International Association of Child Law Researchers
- A member of the International Family Law Arbitration Scheme.
- A Board member of the AFCC Australian Chapter
- Patron of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association
- Chair of the Australian Law Schools Standards Committee
Ms Bryant received a Centenary Medal in 2001 and was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2012 for services to the judiciary and to the advancement of women in the law and was Patron of Australian Women Lawyers until her retirement as Chief justice.
