Deborah joined the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer in January 2013. She trained and practiced as a lawyer in New Zealand, before undertaking a public health-related PhD in law, which examined mandatory reporting laws. Deborah has previously worked as a research fellow on the New Zealand Law Foundation-sponsored Human Genome Research Project, exploring regulatory options for genetic testing of children and young people. Since moving to Melbourne in 2007 she has worked as a youth disability advocate, and in multicultural youth policy.