Melanie Binet became deputy president of Fair Work Commission in February 2016, and the first female to be appointed to the role. Prior to that, she was the director of legal services at Gregor & Binet specialising in employment law, employee relations, human resources, industrial strategy, workplace inquiries and mediation. Ms Binet also spent over 15 years practising employment law at top-tier national commercial law firms and has been responsible for the development, implementation & defence of industrial relations strategies on a state & national basis. She has a particular interest in human resource matters & has had extensive involvement in the development, implementation & enforcement of workplace policies and procedures including the management of performance & misconduct. Ms Binet appeared as counsel in various State & Federal courts & tribunals dealing with employment related matters, and has substantial experience in workplace training, workplace investigations, audits & inquiries including conducting of inquires on behalf of statutory investigative bodies. She holds a Bachelor of Economics (with a double major in IR&HR and Management) and a Bachelor of Laws, both from the University of WA. She is a Chartered Member & former State Convener of AHRI, a former deputy convenor of the Law Society of WA Employee Relations Committee, president of the IR Society of WA, national president and secretary of ALERA, and the Asia Pacific representative on the 16-member world governing committee of the International Labour & Employment Relations Association.
