Dr Achalie Kumarage is a public policy practitioner, lawyer and socio-legal researcher working at the intersection of regulation, labour governance, human rights, gender and public-sector policy. Achalie completed her PhD at the ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), where her research examined labour regulation in transnational garment supply chains, with a particular focus on collective bargaining, workplace health and safety, and gender-based violence and harassment at work. She also holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from American University Washington College of Law, where she specialised in International Human Rights Law. Her research has received awards from the American Society of Comparative Law and the Asian Journal of Law and Society and the Asian Law and Society Association.

Before joining the public service, Achalie held academic positions at the University of Wollongong, ANU and several international universities. She has published in the fields of labour regulation, business and human rights, gender equality and comparative law, and has undertaken consultancy work for international organisations and civil society organisations on law reform and women's rights.