Leadership

General President – Grahame Kelly

Grahame Kelly is the General President of the Mining and Energy Union. Born and raised in the Hunter Valley, Grahame has deep roots in one of the country’s oldest coal regions and a lifelong commitment to mining communities.

Grahame began his mining career in 1985 at the Warkworth mine, working as a trade assistant and later as a washery operator. Grahame’s commitment to advocating for workers’ rights saw him take up union leadership roles in the workplace before being elected as a full time MEU official in 2003 as Northern District Vice President, then Secretary. In 2017, Grahame was elected General Secretary of the national union, and in 2025 he succeeded Tony Maher as General President of the Mining and energy Union.

Grahame has represented MEU members on several key boards and industry bodies, including Team Super, Coal Services Pty Ltd, the Coal Long Service Leave Corporation, Unity Bank, the Stakeholder Panel for the Net Zero Economy Authority and the MATES in Mining Steering Committee.

Grahame remains focused on advancing the rights, safety, and wellbeing of workers across the mining, energy, port, and rail sectors, ensuring strong representation and better outcomes for communities throughout Australia.

General Vice President – Stephen Smyth

Stephen Smyth is a third-generation coal mineworker from Collinsville, Queensland, with over 35 years of experience in the coal industry. He began his career in 1988 as an open-cut mineworker before moving into underground mining at Collinsville No. 2 mine, where he gained extensive operational experience and earned key safety qualifications including Deputy’s ticket, ventilation engineer, and risk management certifications.

In 2000, Stephen took on the statutory role of Industry Safety and Health Representative (ISHR), as a full-time advocate for worker safety. He was elected as President of the MEU Queensland District in 2009 and General Vice President of the national union in 2023.

Stephen has played a pivotal role in improving mine safety standards across Australia. He has contributed to investigations and inquests into serious mining incidents, reviewed wardens’ inquiries, and helped shape safety protocols through union and industry committees. His leadership was instrumental in addressing the re-emergence of black lung disease in Queensland, driving reforms in diagnosis, prevention, and worker protections.

Stephen represents the MEU on various boards and committees including the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance, the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute Board, the Queensland Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee, the Queensland Resources Dust Diseases Support Group and the NSW Mines Rescue Working Group.

A respected voice in both national and international forums, Stephen continues to hold multinational mining companies accountable and advocates for better outcomes for mineworkers and their communities.