Melissa Donnelly (born 1982) is an Australian trade unionist currently serving as the secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). Prior to assuming her role with the ACTU, Donnelly was the National Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).
Career Donnelly was the CPSU's youngest ever national secretary, as well as the third woman and the first working mother to hold the role.
Donnelly was first elevated to the role, following tenure in the union's legal and industrial relations team and its Executive Committee, when former National Secretary Nadine Flood resigned for health reasons in 2019. Donnelly was reelected to the position in December 2023.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Donnelly was responsible for championing a "groundbreaking" Work from home deal with the Australian Public Sector Commission in 2023 which allows public sector employees to seek unlimited working from home flexibility arrangements.
Donnelly was elected unopposed as secretary of the ACTU following the resignation of Sally McManus in August 2026.
Donnelly has served as a member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive since 2023.
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