Change District

National

Northern Mining & NSW Energy

NSW South Western

Queensland

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

Leadership

General Secretary – Grahame Kelly

Grahame Kelly is the General Secretary 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.

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 President – Tony Maher

Tony Maher began his career in the resources industry in 1979 at Rio Tinto’s silver, lead and zinc mine in Broken Hill. He has served as General President of the Mining and Energy Union since August 1998, following earlier roles in its predecessor, the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Association (FEDFA).

Tony has led the union’s work on energy policy for two decades, with a focus on support for workers and communities affected by energy transition. In 2024 he was appointed to the Board of the Net Zero Economy Authority, a statutory body to manage the energy transition in the interests of regions and workers.

In January 2025, he was appointed Chair of Safe Work Australia, a national tripartite body focused on improving workplace health and safety and workers compensation arrangements.

Tony represents the MEU on the executive committees of the ACTU and IndustriALL Global Union. He represents mining and energy workers on the board of Team Super and has previously served as a director on the Australian Minerals and Energy Skills Alliance (AUSMESA), Mines Rescue Pty Ltd, Coal Mines Insurance, Coal Services Pty Ltd and as a member of the NSW Government’s Mine Safety Advisory Council.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales.

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.

Central Council

The Central Council is the main governing body of the Mining and Energy Union. The Central Council consists of the Presidents of each District and ten elected councillors, in addition to the Union’s national officials.

Robin Williams – Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President

Mitch Hughes – Queensland District President

Bob Timbs – South West District President

Andy Smith – Victorian District President

Ricky Gale – Tasmanian District Honorary President

Central Councillors

Brett Smith – Queensland District

Clare Bailey – Northern Mining and NSW Energy District

Dan Hopkins – South Western District

Jason Noonan – Queensland District

Logan Muller – Queensland District

Michael Schofield – Northern Mining and NSW Energy District

Peter Compton – Northern Mining and NSW Energy District

Scott Baird – Northern Mining and NSW Energy District

Simon Duff – Northern Mining and NSW Energy District

Simon West – Queensland District