Bar: 2013

Astrid has extensive appearance and advisory experience as counsel, and both defends and prosecutes in criminal trials. Astrid has particular experience with white collar crime including corruption matters, Commonwealth Code matters, public interest immunity matters, and matters involving the intersection of criminal and civil law.  Astrid has a strong civil regulatory background and has acted for and against regulators across jurisdictions. 

Astrid has a current high level security clearance. 

Astrid is a Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister and holds an Indictable Crime Certificate (ICC). 

Background

As an experienced solicitor, Astrid acted for Commonwealth agencies in the areas of competition and consumer law, corporate regulation, customs and tariff law, national security, trade marks, regulatory enforcement and insolvency.

Astrid spent a significant period of time on secondment within in-house legal teams at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in the mergers branch, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Oil-For-Food Taskforce investigating alleged corruption in relation to UN sanctions.

Professional Interests

Astrid has recognised experience and leadership in gender, diversity, equality and access to justice issues. 

Current Board and Committee work:

• President of Australian Women Lawyers Ltd - the peak body for women lawyer organisations in Australia.
• Executive committee of the Women Barristers Association
• Committee of Australians Detained Abroad
• Extended information

Astrid was awarded as winner of the 'professions' category of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians Leadership awards through Asialink in 2019., and advocates in relation to intersectional diversity issues.

Through her pro bono work with Australians Detained Abroad, Astrid has particular knowledge relating to the legal systems in The Philippines and Colombia and can assist the families of persons arrested in those countries. 

Astrid is a former Convenor and board member of the Victorian Women Lawyers Association (VWL) (2008-2013).

Astrid is a former Deputy Chair of the Victorian Bar's Equality and Diversity Committee, and led the Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Diversity working group. 

Astrid was previously a director of the board of St Kilda Community Legal Centre from 2014-2018 and sat on the audit and risk committee. 

She was previously a member of the Bar's Indigenous Justice Committee, the Law Institute of Victoria's Diversity Taskforce (2012-2019), and the Law Council of Australia Equal Opportunity committee (2011-2017). 

Astrid has also worked in human trafficking policy and advocacy for the UNODC in Bogota, Colombia, and advises and appears in human trafficking matters in Australia and Asia.

Astrid completed her LLM at the University of Melbourne focusing on criminal law, evidence and disability/health data law subjects.

Astrid read with Benjamin Fitzpatrick and her senior mentor is Fiona McLeod SC.