Commissioners

Dave Oliver

Chairperson, Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission

Member since March 2024

Dave has had an extensive career spanning over 30 years, encompassing a deep expertise in workplace industrial relations (IR) laws, occupational health and safety (OHS), and workers' compensation matters.

Dave began as a workplace OHS representative in the 1980s, and ascended to the leadership role in the ACTU in 2017. Throughout his career, he has held various elected positions at both state and national levels, including serving as the State Secretary for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Victorian Branch for 5 years, followed by a tenure as National Secretary for 6 years. Additionally, he proudly served as the Secretary of the ACTU for 5 years, demonstrating his commitment to advocating for workers' rights and welfare.

His involvement extends beyond union leadership roles. He has also served as a Director and Deputy Chair of Australian Super from 2007 to 2022, contributing to strategic decision-making in the realm of superannuation and financial security for workers. He currently holds the position of Chairperson of the National Entitlement Security Trust Fund (NEST), bringing a wealth of experience to ensure the fund’s effectiveness and integrity.

Dave has been involved in numerous state and government committees, inquiries and task forces. Many of these were tripartite collaborations involving employers, government and unions, which underscores his dedication to fostering cooperation and driving positive change in areas such as innovation, productivity, training and workplace health and safety.

Throughout his career, he has honed the skill of engaging with diverse stakeholders at the highest echelons of government, employer organisations and unions. His experience positions him well to navigate complex challenges and effectively represent the interests of all stakeholders. He is also active in his local community as a proud member of the Rural Fire Service and local surf lifesaving club.

Trevor Gauld

Member nominated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions

Member since July 2014

Trevor Gauld is the National Policy Officer for the Electrical Trades Union.

Trevor holds a variety of licences and qualifications relevant to the electrical industry and has worked across a large range of the different electrical industry sectors including power distribution and transmission, electrical maintenance and electrical construction.

He has extensive experience as both an elected health and safety representative in the workplace and as a Workplace Health and Safety Permit Holder under the Work Health and Safety Act in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania.

He began working full time for the Union in 2008 and during that time has represented his Unions members' interests on a variety of working committees, boards and advisory councils at both a State and Federal Level. Trevor is experienced in working with industry stakeholders to improve workplace health and safety as well as the development and implementation of agreed industry safety standards including advising regulatory agencies and Government on the application of relevant legislative instruments.

Trevor advocates strongly for a sensible and reasoned approach to occupational health and safety that delivers measurable outcomes rather than simply another administrative checklist. He is passionate about implementing systems which genuinely improve safety outcomes in the workplace through effective consultation and the appropriate application of the hierarchy of safety controls.

Melissa Payne

Member nominated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions

Member since July 2020

Melissa is the Deputy National President of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).

Through her time at the CPSU Melissa has held a number of positions and overseen governance, industrial, and organising sections.

Melissa has also had responsibility for industrial outcomes, including workplace health and safety matters, extensive representation of injured workers, workers compensation matters and other industrial matters affecting CPSU members.

Melissa has worked across all areas of the Community and Public Sector Union including the federal public sector, telecommunications, broadcasting, and private sector industries since 2003.

Michael Flinn

Member nominated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions

Member since February 2022

Michael Flinn is the Executive Officer of the Australian Council of Trade unions and has worked within the Australian Trade Union Movement for over 35 years.

His professional background and training are in Education. He has worked as a teacher, as the National Secretary and the Victorian State Secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia, Assistant State Secretary of the ASU of NSW, an Educator with the Aids Council of NSW, Chief of Staff to the Minister for Education in the Victorian Government, Executive officer of the CFMMEU, National Campaigns Co-Ordinator of the CFMMEU and is currently at the ACTU.

Michael has previously been a member of the ministerial advisory council on Gay and Lesbian Health.

Louisa Hudson

Member representing self-insured licensees

Member since November 2017

Louisa was elected by self-insured licensees to represent their views as a member of the SRCC.

Louisa has previously worked at the National Australia Bank (NAB) as Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing.

Her team was responsible for health and safety, injury management and workers’ compensation for the approximately 30,000 employees across Australia.

She has a legal background in dispute resolution, practising in the area of insurance and risk. She also spent seven years as a Senior Legal Counsel with WorkSafe Victoria, where she was involved in the regulation of the compensation scheme as well as management of litigation at a scheme level.

Louisa is a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and chairs the TAC Board Risk Committee. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University, is an Australian legal practitioner and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jody Anderson

Member representing the Commonwealth and Commonwealth authorities

Member since March 2019

Jody Anderson is a First Assistant Secretary at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, within the Industrial Relations Group, and is also the Commonwealth representative of Safe Work Australia.

Prior to her current role, Jody held a number of senior executive positions within the portfolio, leading strategic policy and implementation.

Jody has over 20 years of industrial relations experience in the public service, including extensive international policy and representational experience, leading Australia’s engagement with the International Labour Organization for a number of years. She has also worked as an industrial relations practitioner in the Commonwealth and the ACT Public Service.

Jody has a Bachelor of Arts, Administration (University of Canberra), and a Graduate Diploma in Employment Relations (University of Canberra).

Marie Boland

Chief Executive Officer, Safe Work Australia

Member since November 2023

Marie Boland commenced as Chief Executive Officer of Safe Work Australia in November 2023.

Before joining Safe Work Australia, Ms Boland offered independent work health and safety and workplace relations consultancy services including the 2023 review of the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner, the 2022 Review of the Conduct of Work Health and Safety Prosecutions in the Australian Capital Territory, an independent review of the South Australian local government sector's One System WHS Management System in December 2020 and the 2018 National Review of the model work health and safety laws.

Ms Boland was the 2021 Inaugural Thinker in Residence at the University of South Australia's Psychosocial Safety Climate Global Observatory, and has held senior roles at SafeWork South Australia as an Executive Director, Policy and Community Engagement Director and Chief Policy Officer. More recently, Ms Boland was the Presiding Officer of South Australia’s Construction Industry Long Service Leave Board.

Vacant

Member representing the interests of members and former members of the Defence Force

Catherine Hudson

Member representing the interests of the Australian Capital Territory's public sector employers

Member since July 2014

Catherine has extensive strategy and governance experience including over 25 years working in government across a range of economic, social and environmental areas.

Her long career in the public sector (Queensland Public Service 1991-2003, and the ACT Public Service 2003-2014), included Deputy Director-General roles in the ACT Government from 2006 to 2014 and acting as Director-General for substantial periods of time. For five years she held the key integrity and governance position of ACT Commissioner for Public Administration. She has extensive experience in the provision of strategic advice on public policy issues across many portfolio areas, including industrial relations and work safety.

In 2014, she embarked on a company director career and established her own consulting business, Governance and Policy Innovation. Over the last five years Catherine has served on a number of Boards including as Deputy Chair of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, and as a Commissioner on the SRCC. She has also undertaken numerous consultancies providing board strategy and governance advice.

Catherine is an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate and has an Economics Degree from the University of Adelaide.

Vacant

Member with qualifications or experience relevant to the SRCC's functions, or the exercise of its powers

Vacant

Member with qualifications or experience relevant to the SRCC's functions, or the exercise of its powers