Michelle Blake is a dedicated legal researcher and professional historian with a background in heritage and collection management. Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Technology Sydney on the history of abortion law in Australia. Michelle has undertaken previous research on how abortion law was practiced in Tasmania. The aims of her PhD research is to undertake a comparative analysis of how abortion law was practiced between the 1860s to 1960 in each state and territory in Australia. Although this is a broad topic it will be refined through archival research and the use of microhistory.

As a professional historian, Michelle has worked on a number of projects for local and state government in Tasmania, and as a freelance historian with experise in Lands Title and house history research. She has previous experience as a heritage consultant, research assistant, and collection manager for local museum collections.