Lorna was appointed in September 2006. She holds a PhD from Flinders University (2005) having completed a B.Soc.Wk. from University of Queensland in 1982. Prior to coming to Flinders, Lorna practiced in a range of settings, including disability advocacy and the management of a loss and grief service. In 2015 Lorna was appointed Independent Reviewer of the South Austraian Adoptions Act (1988). She was a member of the SA Premier's Council for Women for six years until July 2021. Lorna speaks and writes regularly on ethical issues for workers in complex human services.

Lorna was Chair Flinders Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee for 4.5 years from 2013 and Head,Flinders Social Work for 3 years until July 2019.

Lorna has been a significant and long term contributor to the development and analysis of disability policy incuding the development and evaluation of the Trial of The National Disability Insurance Scheme. From July 2019 until February 2021 Lorna was seconded as Senior Research Advisor to the Royal Commission on Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.