Our people structure

Our primary function is as an independent tribunal. The tribunal consists of Commission Members who are individual statutory office holders. They perform a quasi-judicial role similar to a judge. The President and Members are supported by the General Manager and specialist staff. Our staff are Australian Public Servants. Our staff are organised into 5 branches that support different areas of work.

Our President is Justice Adam Hatcher, who is also a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.  Justice Hatcher is responsible for ensuring that the Commission performs its functions and exercises its powers in a manner that is efficient and adequately serves the needs of employers and employees throughout Australia.

Commission Members perform quasi-judicial functions under the Fair Work Act, including conducting public hearings and private conferences for both individual and collective matters. They also perform certain functions under the Registered Organisations Act concerning federally registered unions and employer organisations.

Members are independent statutory office holders appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Australian Government. Members of state industrial tribunals may hold a dual appointment to the Commission. Expert panel members are appointed on a part-time basis for a specified period of not more than five years.

See Members or Regional Allocation System for more information about how the work of the tribunal is managed.

Our General Manager is Murray Furlong, who is a statutory appointee. Their role is to assist the President and oversee the administration arm of the Tribunal. The General Manager also exercises functions and powers under the Registered Organisations Act.

As the accountable authority, the General Manager is responsible for the Commission’s performance, financial management and compliance with requirements under the PGPA Act. The General Manager is supported by an executive team and Australian Public Servant Staff.

Our executive team consists of 5 Executive Directors. They are each responsible for a branch that supports different Areas of work:

• Executive Director, Client Services Delivery Branch: Kate Scarlett
• Executive Director, Communications, Legal and Integrity Branch: Patrick McCarthy
• Executive Director, Enabling Services: Jack Lambalk
• Executive Director, Registered Organisations Services Branch: Chris Enright
• Executive Director, Tribunal Support Branch: Joelle Leggett. 

The administrative arm of the Commission is overseen by the General Manager, who is supported by an Executive team and specialist staff. The administration consists of 5 branches that support different areas of work. Each branch is led by an Executive Director. Our staff are employed under the Public Service Act 1999.

Enabling Services Branch provides business support across the Commission, which includes financial management and resources, facilities, human resources, information and communications technology, records management and governance.

The Executive Director of the Enabling Services Branch is Jack Lambalk. He can be contacted by emailing jack.lambalk@fwc.gov.au.

Tribunal Support Branch provides research and administrative support to Commission Members. Staff support the work of Members in chambers, undertake specialist workplace relations and economic research, assist with managing large statutory reviews such as those concerning modern awards and the minimum wage, and perform analysis of enterprise agreements.

The Executive Director of the Tribunal Support Branch is Joelle Leggett. She can be contacted by emailing joelle.leggett@fwc.gov.au.

Client Services Delivery Branch handles the majority of enquiries, by telephone, email and in-person at offices in each state and territory. Staff receive and process applications, case manage individual dispute applications prior to allocation to Members, and conduct conciliation conferences in unfair dismissal and general protections dismissal applications. The branch works collaboratively across the Commission to deliver projects and services and has a key role in supporting digital transformation.

The Executive Director of the Client Services Delivery Branch is Kate Scarlett. She can be contacted by emailing kate.scarlett@fwc.gov.au.

Communications, Legal and Integrity Branch provides support across communications, publications, online learning, user experience and evaluation, as well as engagement, government and media relations, reporting and operational performance. The branch is responsible for providing strategic legal advice to the Executive, staff and Members on a range of legal matters, including privacy and freedom of information (FOI) requests.

The Executive Director of the Communications, Legal and Integrity Branch is Patrick McCarthy. He can be contacted by emailing patrick.mccarthy@fwc.gov.au.

Registered Organisations Services Branch supports the General Manager to exercise his functions under the Registered Organisations Act. This includes managing right of entry permits and providing education, advice and assistance to registered organisations to ensure their compliance with the Act.

The Executive Director of the Tribunal Support Branch is Chris Enright. He can be contacted by emailing chris.enright@fwc.gov.au.