The Australian Women's Register

In her first term Chiaka Barry was appointed member and Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee (including its security sub-committee) on 16 June 2025, member the Social Policy Committee and its Deputy Chair on 3 December 2024. On 4 December 2025 she was appointed to the portfolios of Shadow Attorney-General, Social Housing and Homelessness and Multicultural Affairs.

Born of Nigerian parents in 1988 in the United Kingdom, Barry emigrated to Australia in 2008 where she studied law at the University of Canberra. She has worked as a solicitor in various roles from criminal defence and family law and in the Commonwealth Public Service as senior lawyer in the Department of Home Affairs on border protection, and in the Attorney General’s Department developing child protection legislation. She has two children and, as a former victim of domestic violence, advocates for those experiencing homelessness due to hardship or domestic and family violence. In 2022 she was nominated for the Australian of the Year, Local Hero ACT award.