Jennifer Kanis

Who is Jennifer Kanis?

Jennifer Kanis is an Australian politician. She is an Australian Labor Party member for Melbourne in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Kanis was born in Melbourne to migrant parents—a Greek father and Italian mother. She studied an Arts degree at the University of Melbourne, and also gained postgraduate qualifications in education. She worked as an English and literature teacher, and then enrolled to study industrial law at La Trobe University. After graduation, she took a job with Holding Redlich—the law firm founded by former Victorian Labor leader Clyde Holding—and became a senior associate of the firm. In 2008, she was elected as a member of the Melbourne City Council.

In 2012, Kanis was preselected as the Labor candidate for the Melbourne by-election triggered by the resignation of Bronwyn Pike. Kanis retained the seat for Labor on a 51.5 per cent two-candidate-preferred vote against Australian Greens candidate and fellow Melbourne City councillor Cathy Oke.