New Fair Work Ombudsman

Ms Anna Booth has been appointed as Fair Work Ombudsman.

Ms Booth brings extensive experience in workplace relations to the role, including eight years as Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission from 2012 to 2020.

I’m confident Ms Booth will execute her duties with skill, rigour and impartiality in the role.

Ms Booth’s 5-year term will begin on 1 September 2023.

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to an independent, trusted and empowered Fair Work Ombudsman.

The role of the Fair Work Ombudsman is more important than ever as the Government moves to implement a better and fairer workplace relations system for Australian workers.

It includes promoting harmonious, productive and co-operative workplaces, and improving compliance in workplaces covered by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and fair work instruments.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is responsible for the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s day-to-day operations and overall management of the organisation including governance, financial accountability and reporting requirements. 

My thanks to Ms Sandra Parker PSM for her work as Fair Work Ombudsman since 2018. 

I am grateful for the judgment and professionalism she has applied to the role.

The term of Ms Parker will end on 14 July 2023. In the period between then and the commencement of Ms Booth on 1 September 2023, Ms Kristen Hannah, Deputy Fair Work Ombudsman, Policy and Communication, will be the Acting Fair Work Ombudsman.

Biography:

Mr Anna Booth returned as Director of CoSolve Pty Ltd in 2020 after serving as a Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission since 2012. Before then, Ms Booth combined her CoSolve directorship with non-executive directorships of ME Bank and IFM and was the non-executive chair of Slater & Gordon Ltd.

Prior to that, Ms Booth was a National Secretary of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia and a Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

During her work in the union movement, she came to national attention exposing sweatshop operations where predominantly migrant women workers were being exploited.

Ms Booth went on to roles as Vice President Corporate Affairs at Sydney Harbour Casino and lecturer at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management and Australian Institute of Management.

Ms Booth has been a board member of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and NRMA Ltd. Ms Booth holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Sydney and is the Patron of the Industrial Relations Society of NSW.