Assistant Secretary - Geoff Fary

Geoff Fary was elected ACTU Assistant Secretary in 2007.

He has previously worked as a farm labourer, sheep shearer, administrator, Victorian Director of the Trade Union Training Authority (TUTA), Chief of Staff to a federal Cabinet Minister, Human Resources Director, Company Director, CEO of Industrial Relations Victoria.

For the previous four years he has performed the most senior national industrial role at the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers of Australia (APESMA).

Geoff was born and raised in northern Victoria. His career moves have given him the unusual perspective of union, corporate and government experiences that he brings to the challenges faced by the ACTU.

Married with two teenage children, Geoff and his family live at Portarlington, a small seaside township near Melbourne. His interests include being a home handyman, current affairs - and a passionate involvement in Australian Rules football (Essendon). 

Assistant Secretary - Tim Lyons

Tim was elected to the ACTU Assistant Secretary position in August 2008 and has worked in various positions at the National Union of Workers over the past 13 years, including senior advocate at the NUW National Office, and senior industrial officer and organiser in Victoria.

During this period Tim has represented members in the logistics, food, plastics, oil and gas and market research industries.  One of his proudest moments was being the organiser representing 110 refinery workers who were locked out by their employer for 128 days. The dispute included litigation, an attempt to sack the workforce, and the refusal of the multi-national employer to bargain with the NUW. The workers stuck together, and through their union the dispute was settled with a new Union collective agreement and 100% of members returning to work.

In 2004, Tim led the negotiating team in the Victorian Common Rule Test Case for Victorian unions. The case resulted in agreement from employers that all key Federal Awards became common rule, and this extended the award safety net to 350, 000 low paid Victorian workers after a gap of 12 years.

Tim is also a director of LUCRF Super (Labour Union Co-operative Retirement Fund) and believes it is an “honour” to be one of the current custodians of Australia’s first industry super fund.