Bernice Watson is the First Clerk Assistant (Committees) at Queensland Parliament. In this role she leads the team that provides professional advice and research, administrative and procedural support to the various committees of the Parliament in fulfilling their roles and engaging with the community. Bernice has been with the Parliamentary Service since the portfolio committee system was implemented in 2011, and prior to this worked over twenty years managing teams working on public policy and strategy with a number of government agencies in Victoria and Queensland. Bernice’s particular research, policy and strategy areas of experience include housing, disability, mental health, women, and early childhood education and care.    

Bernice has served as Committee Secretary to various Parliamentary committees, including the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee, Education and Innovation Committee and is currently secretary to the Parliament’s Ethics Committee.  She also acts as a Clerk at the Table in the Legislative Assembly; and is completing her LLB (Honours) on a part-time basis.