"Ms Hannam brings to the Territory a wealth of experience and knowledge with 26 years of legal experience," Ms Lawrie said.

"Ms Hannam has been a Magistrate in New South Wales for ten years and has spent the past three years as a Children's Magistrate, including in the New South Wales Youth Drug and Alcohol Court."

"Ms Hannam has a deep understanding of the managerial and judicial requirements in the conduct of a successful magistrate's court service, having acted as the President of the Children's Court of New South Wales.

"She also holds the position of President of the New South Wales Magistrates Association."

Ms Hannam has a particular interest in Aboriginal justice issues and will take up the position on Monday 16 August 2010.

BIOGRAPHY

Ms Hannam graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts in 1982 and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 1984.

Ms Hannam was employed in Sydney as a solicitor with the major commercial law firm, Allen, Allen & Hemsley until 1985. From1985 Ms Hannam was employed as a legal officer, senior legal officer and then principal legal officer with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (Commonwealth DPP).

Ms Hannam remained with the Commonwealth DPP until 1998, spending two years as a consultant with commercial law firm Ebsworth & Ebsworth until her appointment as a Magistrate in 2000. Since her appointment in 2000, Ms Hannam has presided over courts in Wagga Wagga and Sydney.

In 2002 Ms Hannam undertook research in the United States on therapeutic courts as part of a Churchill Fellowship, and has presented numerous papers on therapeutic justice and specialist courts.

Since 2008 Ms Hannam has been the President of the Magistrates Association of New South Wales.

Ms Hannam has been an active member of a number of professional committees, including as secretary of the Australian Association of Magistrates in 2006 and 2007.

Ms Hannam is married to Dr Donald Hannam and has three children, Eliza, Georgina and Angus.