Gail Furness has been practicing law in Australia for almost 30 years. The majority of her career has been spent in NSW where she held senior positions with statutory oversight agencies before going to the Bar.
Gail was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland in 1982 majoring in journalism and philosophy. She gained a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) in 1985 and a Masters of Laws in 1989 each from the University of Melbourne.
After a short stint in private practice, Gail worked as a researcher for the Legal and Constitutional Committee, a Joint Committee of the Victorian Parliament.
Gail then worked for the ICAC in Sydney for five years and was the Solicitor to the ICAC under Commissioner Ian Temby QC. She was appointed Deputy Commissioner with the Health Care Complaints Commission for three years before being called to the NSW Bar in 1997.
Gail has appeared as counsel assisting in many inquiries including those conducted by Peter McClellan QC (as he then was), Bret Walker SC and the Hon James Wood QC.
In 2010, Gail was made a Senior Counsel. She was appointed Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission in January 2013.