The society hosts various events throughout the year which includes the annual conference, Finnegan Rudd Memorial Luncheon, Practitioners Workshops and Annual General Meeting with a special guest speaker.

Finnegan Rudd Memorial Dinner (now Luncheon)

Dedicated to the two Maurie’s – Maurie Finnegan and Maurie Rudd – this event is held in their honour.

Maurie Finnegan was the Newcastle Branch Secretary of the Federated Ironworkers’ Association instrumental in the set up of the Newcastle Branch. He was one of the first members of the NSW Industrial Relations Society where he participated in activities until his death in 1975. The first Finnegan Memorial Dinner was held on 18 July 1979.

The Finnegan Rudd Memorial Dinner came to be known as the Finnegan Rudd Memorial Dinner in memory of Maurie Rudd following his passing in 1998. Maurie Rudd worked at BHP Steelworks before he became a full time official of the Federated Ironworkers Association in June 1985. He was the Secretary of the FIA in July 1989 and was elected as Chair of the Newcastle Branch soon after. Maurie was awarded an AOM in recognition of his outstanding efforts on behalf of workers and Newcastle shortly before his passing.

Notable speakers delivering the address at this event include The Honourable Mr Neville Wran, Premier of NSW; The Honourable Kim Beazley, Federal Labor Opposition Leader; and the Honourable John Howard, Prime Minister (link to speech.)

In recent years the event has moved to a more family friendly luncheon and hosted The Honourable Sophie Cotsis MP, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety.

Annual Conference

The first conference was held at the Salamander Bay Hotel in Port Stephens on 5 and 6 October 1979. There were 63 attendees who enjoyed Friday afternoon and dinner, and the conference Saturday morning, with their fellow IR friends.

The topic was “Industrial Relations in the Hunter Valley in the 1980’s – Plan for Success or Achilles Heel”. Speakers included John Ducker, Labour Council of NSW; Brian Loton, Chief General Manager of BHP Newcastle; Justice J. Cahill, Industrial Commission of NSW; Sandy Roller, General Manager of Alcan Aluminium; and Jack Thomas, Personnel and Industrial Relations Manager of Sulphide Corporation.

Annual General Meeting

The first Annual General Meeting was held in September 1978. The current format of the AGM features a key note speaker, a luncheon and the formalities which include the appointment of the executive and committee positions, and reports from the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

Practitioners Workshops

Each year we hold Practitioners Workshops with members of the Fair Work Commission and the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, as well as panels with lawyers, unions, employer associations discussing interesting topics which are trending at the time. The largest attendance at a Practitioners Workshop was in February 2023 featuring Deputy President Tony Saunders of the Fair Work Commission, with 130 attendees.

To book tickets to an event, please visit the Events Page or click any of the links below.