Who We Are

The Union Innovation Hub (the Hub) exists to help unions achieve growth, efficiency and impact by fast tracking progress and reducing the cost of digital and other innovation. The Hub is a group of self-selected unions embarking on a journey for digital innovation, with the use of best of breed software, supported by experts in the field.
The Hub is a standalone company owned and supported by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

The Hub leverages the movements size and place in the marketplace to reduce costs, utilises best of breed software such as iMIS and fasts tracks innovation through sharing.
The Hub only exist to support a self-selected group of unions and other progressive groups achieve growth and have a positive impact for workers and society.

Why set up the Hub?

The ACTU has pivoted to growth.

When building the ACTU Growth Plan, one of the key requests from affiliates out of the consultations conducted in late 2019, was the need to share resources, expertise and innovate with technology. Affiliates expressed a strong desire to maximise the use of modern database technology.

They wanted solutions which recognise all affiliates do not have the internal resources necessary to take the advantages of digital innovation. They also recognised the significant savings and benefits arising from a collective approach.
The Union Innovation Hub exists to help unions retain members and improve organising through the use of new technology and other innovation, to grow their unions.

Key staff

The Hub employs or retains a range of experts in the field.

Chris Walton, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chris Walton has more than 34 years’ experience working with unions, driving initiatives to achieve change and growth. He has first-hand experience as a recruiter, organiser, lead organiser, industrial officer, trainer and leader of a peak body and national union.
Chris has worked to support hundreds of leaders and staff in unions and helped facilitate union change. His experience includes setting up and running the Organising Works program, co-directing the ACTU education arm, the Organising Centre and while he was Assistant Secretary of the ACTU, coordinating the community and ground component of the Your Rights at Work Campaign. For over 11 years as CEO of a union, Professionals Australia, he drove a significant change process leading to growth.

Nathan Price, Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Over twelve years’ experience in the Not for Profit sector as an iMIS Consultant. 3 years’ experience in unions, as Chief Information Officer at Professionals Australia. Extensive experience building and implementing systems as an iMIS expert.

Alex Pierides, Technical Delivery Manager
Over ten years working with Not for Profits and iMIS as a consultant. As a technical consultant he has been involved with implementation of systems , development of custom solutions and integrations.

James Driscoll, Digital Business Analyst
Over four years’ experience working with iMIS in the Not for Profit and membership sectors.