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Background on CPSU leaders

Melissa Donnelly, National Secretary

Melissa Donnelly is the CPSU’s youngest ever National Secretary, as well as the third woman and the first working mother to hold the role.

Melissa was admitted to practice law in New South Wales in 2006, and has degrees in Social Science and Law from Macquarie University.

Soon after joining the CPSU, Melissa represented APS staff and argued for their right to participate in the Your Rights At Work campaign, which opposed the Howard Government’s WorkChoices industrial relations policy.

Melissa has led the CPSU’s national Political, Industrial, Research and Legal team, as well as its Justice, Revenue and Media team, and has represented staff in the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, courts and tribunals, Australia Post and Telstra.

More recently she was responsible for the union’s biggest stronghold in the Australian Public Service, the Department of Human Services.

Michael Tull, Assistant National Secretary

Michael Tull was an economist when he landed 12 months work in 1990 as an organiser in the Sydney office of the Tax Division of the CPSU. Michael loved the work, the challenge and the people and he has never looked back. He has led organising teams in a wide range of agencies including the Tax Office, Finance and Treasury, and was formerly the CPSU’s National President.

Michael currently leads the CPSU’s policy, politics and community campaign work.

Alistair Waters, National President

Alistair Waters has been the CPSU's National President since 2015. He has performed various governance, industrial, organising and policy roles at the union since 1997. Alistair has worked with and represented CPSU members working in the ATO, Services Australia, PM&C and across the APS and broader public sector for many years.