About Alex

Alex White is regarded as a leading thinker and strategist within the trade union movement.

Now working with the ACTU as Director of Growth, he is responsible for leading digital communications, insights, technology development, marketing and digital & mass media advertising.

As Secretary of UnionsACT, he effectively led the ACT union movement from 2014-2020. In that time Alex rebuilt the organisation into a high-impact peak council with a sharp focus on young workers, women’s rights and workplace safety.

2018 Alex White May Day

Before taking up the leadership role at UnionsACT, Alex was the Campaigns Director for Environment Victoria, and before that national union services manager at Slater & Gordon.

He has also worked in the disability sector as fundraising manager for Victoria’s oldest intellectual disability service, as campaign coordinator for several unions, and as a lecturer and tutor in public relations at Victoria University. 

Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree and a Masters of Public Policy focusing on climate change from the University of Melbourne. He also holds a postgraduate degree in Management at the Melbourne Business School, and a specialist certificate in executive leadership.

In 2012-15, Alex wrote a weekly column, called Southern Crossroads, for The Guardian UK’s environment pages, focusing on climate change.

He is a Climate Reality Project Presenter and was personally trained by the Hon. Al Gore in 2009. From 2008-12 Alex was National Secretary of the Labor Environment Action Network.

Alex was a board member of Greenpeace Australia-Pacific from 2013-16, was a board member of The Wilderness Society (Victoria) from 2012-2014, and was a director of the ACT Council of Social Services. He was a member of the ACTU Executive from 2014-2020. 

A published author, Alex has guest lectured at Victoria University on public relations and media management, and guest lectured at US institutions.