Professor Amber McKinley (BA LibStud, MCJ, PhD) is a Clinical and Forensic Victimologist and Director of Research at the Centre for Customs and Excise, based in Civic, ACT. She is the Higher Degree Research Coordinator and currently lecturers in Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective (CUS532), Contemporary challenges: Migration, Exploitation and Trafficking in the Pacific – causes and consequences (CUS708), Pacific Crossroads: examining the impact of Transnational Organised Crime (CUS608).

She holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from the University of Western Sydney, a Master of Criminal Justice from Monash University and, a Doctor of Philosophy from Bond University. Her doctoral thesis was completed with the NSW Police Force and entitled, “Homicide Solvability and Applied Victimology in New South Wales, 1994-2013". She is currently enrolled in her second PhD via the Critical Romani Studies unit at Södertörn University. Her research is entitled “Romani funerary rites and death rituals as dynamic acts of cultural resistance and identity preservation amid marginalisation”.

Her current research includes: Fatal and non-fatal police shooting and taser usage in Queensland subject precipitated homicides (2015-2025); victim vulnerabilities of serial homicide 1807-2023; a cross sectional examination of Australian domestic homicide motive and cause of death (1816 – 2022).

Amber works with the Australian Federal Police, state and territory coroners, state police forces and the Australian Defence Force.