Jennifer Kanis

Jennifer Kanis (born 16 April 1970) is an Australian politician. She was the Labor Party member for Melbourne in the Victorian Legislative Assembly between 2012 and 2014.

Jennifer Kanis
Kanis in 2012
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Melbourne
In office 21 July 2012 – 29 November 2014
Preceded by	Bronwyn Pike
Succeeded by	Ellen Sandell
Personal details
Born	(1970-04-16) 16 April 1970 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political party	Labor
Spouse(s)	Davydd Griffiths
Residence	Flemington
Alma mater	University of Melbourne La Trobe University
Occupation	Teacher
Profession	Lawyer

Kanis was born in Melbourne to migrant parents—a Greek father and Italian mother.[1] She studied an Arts degree at the University of Melbourne, and also gained postgraduate qualifications in education.[2] 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.[3]

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 (–4.7) two-candidate vote against Greens candidate and fellow Melbourne City councillor Cathy Oke. At the 2014 election Greens candidate Ellen Sandell defeated Kanis with a 52.4 per cent two-candidate vote.