Varun Ghosh, Indian-Origin Barrister, Appointed to Australian Senate

Varun Ghosh, a 38-year-old barrister of Indian origin, is set to assume his role in the Australian Senate next week after the Labour Party officially endorsed him as their representative for Western Australia (WA). In a joint sitting of the WA Parliament on Thursday, Ghosh was chosen to succeed current senator Patrick Dodson.

The Legislative Assembly of Western Australia announced the decision, stating, "The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council have chosen Senator Varun Ghosh to represent Western Australia in the Senate of the Federal Parliament."

Having joined the Labor party in Perth at the age of 17, Ghosh's selection holds personal significance as his parents moved from India in the 1980s and established careers as neurologists. Expressing gratitude for the honor, Ghosh emphasized his belief in accessible high-quality education and training for all.

Ghosh, a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers, brings a diverse professional background, having worked with both local businesses in WA and on the global stage with the World Bank in recent years. Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Matt Keogh, expressed anticipation of collaborating with Ghosh in Canberra as part of the @walabor Senate team.

Despite being positioned fifth on the Australian Labour Party's Senate ticket in Western Australia during the 2019 federal election, Ghosh was not elected at that time. He holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Western Australia and was a Commonwealth Scholar in Law at the University of Cambridge.

Prior to his current role, Ghosh gained experience as a finance attorney in New York and worked as a consultant for the World Bank in Washington, DC. Returning to Australia in 2015, he served as a senior associate with King & Wood Mallesons, specializing in dispute resolution for banks, resource companies, and construction firms.

(With Agency Inputs)