Menu
Log in


Log in




IRS NEWCASTLE EVENTS




The society hosts various events throughout the year which includes the annual conference, Finnegan Rudd Memorial Luncheon, Practitioners Workshops and Annual General Meeting with a special guest speaker.

Finnegan Rudd Memorial Dinner (now Luncheon)

Dedicated to the two Maurie’s – Maurie Finnegan and Maurie Rudd – this event is held in their honour.

Maurie Finnegan was the Newcastle Branch Secretary of the Federated Ironworkers’ Association instrumental in the set up of the Newcastle Branch. He was one of the first members of the NSW Industrial Relations Society where he participated in activities until his death in 1975. The first Finnegan Memorial Dinner was held on 18 July 1979.

The Finnegan Rudd Memorial Dinner came to be known as the Finnegan Rudd Memorial Dinner in memory of Maurie Rudd following his passing in 1998. Maurie Rudd worked at BHP Steelworks before he became a full time official of the Federated Ironworkers Association in June 1985. He was the Secretary of the FIA in July 1989 and was elected as Chair of the Newcastle Branch soon after. Maurie was awarded an AOM in recognition of his outstanding efforts on behalf of workers and Newcastle shortly before his passing.

Notable speakers delivering the address at this event include The Honourable Mr Neville Wran, Premier of NSW; The Honourable Kim Beazley, Federal Labor Opposition Leader; and the Honourable John Howard, Prime Minister (link to speech.)

In recent years the event has moved to a more family friendly luncheon and hosted The Honourable Sophie Cotsis MP, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety.

Annual Conference

The first conference was held at the Salamander Bay Hotel in Port Stephens on 5 and 6 October 1979. There were 63 attendees who enjoyed Friday afternoon and dinner, and the conference Saturday morning, with their fellow IR friends.

The topic was “Industrial Relations in the Hunter Valley in the 1980’s – Plan for Success or Achilles Heel”. Speakers included John Ducker, Labour Council of NSW; Brian Loton, Chief General Manager of BHP Newcastle; Justice J. Cahill, Industrial Commission of NSW; Sandy Roller, General Manager of Alcan Aluminium; and Jack Thomas, Personnel and Industrial Relations Manager of Sulphide Corporation.

Annual General Meeting

The first Annual General Meeting was held in September 1978. The current format of the AGM features a key note speaker, a luncheon and the formalities which include the appointment of the executive and committee positions, and reports from the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

Practitioners Workshops

Each year we hold Practitioners Workshops with members of the Fair Work Commission and the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, as well as panels with lawyers, unions, employer associations discussing interesting topics which are trending at the time. The largest attendance at a Practitioners Workshop was in February 2023 featuring Deputy President Tony Saunders of the Fair Work Commission, with 130 attendees.

To book tickets to an event, please visit the Events Page or click any of the links below.


Upcoming Events in Newcastle

    • 25 October 2024
    • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Fort Scratchley, Newcastle
    • 35
    Register

    IRS Newcastle Branch

    Annual Conference

    Date: Friday 25 October 2024

    Time: 8.00am - 5.00pm

    Venue: Fort Scratchley, Newcastle

    INTRODUCING OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

    Deputy President Saunders, Fair Work Commission


    Deputy President Saunders has been a member of the Fair Work Commission for 9 years. Prior to his appointment, Deputy President Saunders was a solicitor and then a barrister specialising in employment law and industrial relations for a combined period of about 18 years. DP Saunders will speak on the new Fair Work Commission jurisdiction relating to (a) unfair contracts for independent contractors and (b) unfair dismissal for employee like workers and road transport contractors”

    Mark Bray, Emeritus Professor at the University of Newcastle


    Mark Bray held the Foundation Chair in Employment Studies at the University of Newcastle from January 1997 until his retirement in early 2021, when he was appointed Emeritus Professor. During that time, he served almost continually on the Newcastle Branch Committee of the Industrial Relations Society and acted as President for a two-year period in 2002-2003. He has continued to research and publish since his retirement, exploring long-term trends in collective bargaining, workplace cooperation and the role of the Fair Work Commission in Australia.

    Senator Barbara Pocock, Greens Senator for South Australia


    Barbara Pocock grew up on a mallee farm in South Australia. She is an economist and Emeritus Professor who has spent her life fighting for the rights of working people, women and low-income workers. She established and led the Centre for Work + Life at the University of South Australia until 2014 and was awarded an AM for services to industrial relations research and social justice in 2010. She has written many books and articles, worked in shearing sheds, on farms, in universities, in government and as a mother.

    Barbara became a South Australian Senator for the Greens in 2022 and is currently the Greens spokesperson for Finance, Employment and Public Sector portfolios. Additionally, Barbara has recently chaired a Senate Select Committee looking at work and care in Australia which shows the need for a new 21st century social contract, one that creates a practical right to care alongside the right to work.

    She is passionate about action on climate change and creating a sustainable future for future generations – in a world of greater economic justice.

    Sophie Costsis, Minister for  Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety


    Sophie Cotsis was born at Canterbury Hospital and attended Canterbury South Public, Kingsgrove Public and Kingsgrove High Schools. Ms Cotsis graduated from Macquarie University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts and the University of Technology, Sydney in 2001 with a Master of Legal Studies. Ms Cotsis has a range of employment experience in both the public and private sectors, including working at Sydney Airport while a student at university. 

    Ms Cotsis has been an active part of the many diverse multicultural communities that are found throughout NSW for many years and has a proud history of being involved in many community campaigns and causes.

    Ms Cotsis first entered NSW Parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council in September 2010, and served as a member of the Shadow Cabinet since 2011. Ms Cotsis has played key roles in the establishment of the Inquiry into Affordable, Social and Public Housing and the Inquiry into Elder Abuse.

    Brent Ferguson, Head of National Workplace Relations Policy at Ai Group


    Brent is Ai Group's Head of National Workplace Relations Policy, leading a team of workplace relations policy and advocacy professionals in representing Ai Group members in workplace relations policy matters. This includes representations to Government and Opposition parties, submissions to numerous inquiries, major cases in the FWC and Courts, and influencing the public debate. 

    Brent is a solicitor with around 20 years’ experience. In his current roles as Head of National Workplace Relations Advocacy & Policy department and Legal Practitioner Director at Ai Group Workplace Lawyers, Brent has been involved in a wide range of workplace developments and reforms.

    The Hon. Justice Ingmar Taylor, President of NSW Industrial Relations Commission


    The Hon. Justice Ingmar Taylor was sworn in as President of the Industrial Relations Commission and a Justice of the Industrial Court by the Chief Justice of NSW in a private ceremony on 1 July 2024.

    Justice Taylor holds the qualifications of BA, LLB (University of Adelaide) and LLM (University of Sydney). His honour was admitted to practice as a solicitor in New South Wales in 1990, as a barrister in 1997, and appointed Senior Counsel in 2012. Before his appointment his Honour was nationally recognised as a preeminent counsel in industrial law and work health and safety.

    Before being appointed to the Bench, his honour held several leadership roles, including Treasurer and Executive member of the NSW Bar Council, Director of the Law Council of Australia and the NSW Bar Association, Chair of a Professional Conduct Committee of the NSW Bar Association and Editor of the NSW Bar’s journal, Bar News.  He was also Editor of the Industrial Reports. He was a founding director of Greenway Chambers, Chair of the Industrial Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia, Director and later Chair of the Association for Children with a Disability NSW, and a lecturer for a Masters of Law Course on the law of registered organisations for the University of Sydney. 

    Renata Roberts, Chief Corporate Services Officer at The Bloomfield Group

    Renata has worked in the resources industry for over 20 years in a diverse portfolio of functions including HR & Capability, Safety & Health, Risk Management & Audit, Industrial Relations, Communications, Community Engagement, and IT.

    Renata’s career, which has seen her operate in roles & projects around Australia and Internationally, has been recognized when she was awarded in 2020 the NSW Exceptional Woman in Mining Award and then went on to be the first NSW nominee to win the Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources Award for her leadership and work within the industry.

    In 2022, Renata was selected among the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining for her passionate advocacy for diversity, inclusion, and mental health. Renata uses her platform to promote the value diversity brings to the mining industry, and to help others develop their inclusive leadership skills.

    Since July 2012 Renata has worked with The Bloomfield Group and is currently the Chief Corporate Services Officer responsible the Safety & Health, HR, Industrial Relations, Contractor Administration & Audit, and IT.

    Renata’s commitment to a call to action on diversity and inclusion, and generally building respect to allow people to bring their authentic selves to work, has seen Renata involved in a number of projects and events on mental health and women in male-dominated businesses. Renata is the creator of the website “They Who Share Their Stories” offering a platform for stories to be shared and inspire others to take their own journey towards workplace inclusion, and is the author of a series of children’s books called Join Jackson’s Journey, which is designed to strengthen the leaders of today and build the leaders of tomorrow.


    ...and more to be announced!


    For any enquiries, please email newcastle@irsnsw.org.au

    *Booking terms and conditions apply

Looking for something specific? Search our site below...

Industrial Relations Society of New South Wales Incorporated  INC9877445 Copyright 2016
ABN Industrial Relations Society NSW 40 585 849 687

Contact NSW OFFICE:

TEL: +61 420 768 736

Email

Contact NEWCASTLE BRANCH

Email

Website

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software