Nicholas Wilson is Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman, and was appointed to the position by the Governor-General for a five year term commencing in July 2009.
He has responsibility for promoting compliance, as well as harmonious, productive and cooperative workplace relations.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is a well resourced, national organisation that provides advice about fair work practices, rights and obligations. The organisation has over 850 staff who provide advice, and investigate and resolve complaints about potential breaches of the law (including through the commencement of litigation, where necessary, for serious breaches).
Nick has a particular focus on ensuring the agency is well motivated and focused on serving the needs of the 8.5 million workers and 1 million workplaces covered by the Australian workplace system and for building strong and effective relationships with industry and unions. He will work closely with Fair Work Australia to ensure services are integrated, timely and relevant and accessible to all Australians.
Nick has significant workplace relations experience having previously been the first Australian Workplace Ombudsman (2007-2009) and inaugural Director of the Office of Workplace Services (2006-2007), both of which entailed responsibility for national enforcement of Australia’s workplace relations laws. As Workplace Ombudsman, Nick was responsible, along with his 400 staff in 26 locations, for building the new compliance agency into a highly regarded and effective regulator. Immediately before these positions he was Industrial Registrar in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2003 - 2006).
Nick has extensive knowledge and practical experience of Australian workplace relations and occupational health and safety practice, policy and regulation, having worked in the field for more than 25 years.
Prior to his first appointment as an Australian Government Chief Executive in 2002 (as Industrial Registrar), Nick worked in senior executive roles in the South Australian Government departments responsible for workplace relations and occupational health and safety policy and enforcement (1995 - 2002). Before that, he worked as an industrial relations advisor and manager for the SA Employers’ Federation, and the SA Employers’ Chamber, which is now Business SA.
Nick has a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Business degree from the South Australian Institute of Technology.
He is based in Melbourne and is a member of the Industrial Relations Societies of South Australia and Victoria and the Australian Human Resources Institute.