Ash has extensive experience in employment, industrial, and work health and safety law and has built a career advocating for workers’ rights and navigating complex legal and industrial landscapes. He provides insightful and practical advice on cooperative industrial relations.
Prior to joining BAL as Special Counsel, Ash held senior legal roles in the trade union movement, including with the CFMEU, the principal union in the building and construction industry—an industry of which Ash has in-depth knowledge. He is also experienced in the aviation, social and community services, and manufacturing industries, as well as the Commonwealth and State/Territory public sector.
He has successfully represented and advised workers and unions in complex and high-profile cases, including in underpayment, termination and discrimination claims, as well as in strategic industrial, demarcation and bargaining disputes, modern award variations, wage arbitrations and representative proceedings. He has also represented and provided advice to foreign missions based in Australia.
Ash’s experience also extends to contributing to the development of public policy affecting workers, workplaces and industry, including labour migration, labour hire regulation, work health and safety best practice, industrial manslaughter, public sector legislation and Commonwealth and State-based industrial laws.
Ash was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 2009 and has been admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in French Language and Literature from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from King’s College London, the University of London.