Jane MacDonnell began her career in Townsville with the Commonwealth Public Service, and spent 3 years working at the Lavarack Barracks. Jane spent 14 years with the Commonwealth Public Service in various Departments in Queensland. During that time she headed up finance and service functions, an internal audit section, a management branch and welfare programs.

In 1987, on graduating from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Jane was awarded the Justice James Archibald Douglas prize as the outstanding reader on the Bar Practice course.

At the end of the 1980s, she successfully applied for the position of Executive Director to establish and lead the new Office of State Revenue - a position she held for 5 years. In 1998, Jane was appointed the Director-General of the Justice and Attorney General’s Department. She is currently admitted as a solicitor in Queensland.

Source: JAG Magazine, March 2000.