Bernadette Boss

Boss was admitted to practice in the United Kingdom in 1992 and then in Australia in 1993.[3] She then practised in England and Wales as a barrister and prosecutor.[4]

From 1996 to 2002, Boss was a legal officer in the Australian Army.[4][5] She was the first woman to be a commanding officer of the Sydney University regiment.[2] She was also the first woman to conduct an inquiry into the combat death of a soldier.[2] Boss served from 1995 in the British Territorial Army, and has seen service in the Australian Regular Army and the Australian Army Reserve, including deployments to East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Boss was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for reorganising the Sydney Regiment and has served as the Army Adjutant General.

In 2002, Boss began practising as a barrister.[3][5] She began practising in the Australian Capital Territory in 2004.[5] She served as Vice-President of the ACT Bar Association.[3][4][5]

She was appointed a magistrate on 11 June 2012.[1][5]

Boss holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Sydney.[4][5][6] Boss also holds a Bachelor of Science (honours) degree in anthropology at London University, a Diploma of Law from the University of Westminster, a Masters of Public Policy from the University of New England, a Masters of International Law from the University of Sydney and a postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies from the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.

Boss is also qualified as a registered nurse at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London and holds an ophthalmic nursing diploma from Moorefields Eye Hospital in London.

She holds the rank of Brigadier in the Australian Army Reserve.[4][5]